Abstract
The roles of the G-protein-linked thrombin receptor and platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) as alpha-thrombin-binding sites on platelets remain controversial. alpha-Thrombin has been proposed to bind to both GPIb and the hirudin-like domain of the G-protein-linked receptor (from which it cleaves the NH2-terminal extracellular domain to release a 41-mer peptide (TR-(1-41), where TR is alpha-thrombin receptor)) to initiate platelet activation. Using affinity-purified rabbit anti-human TR-(1-41) IgG and immunoblotting, we demonstrated TR-(1-41) release from platelets suspended in Tyrode's buffer containing 2 mM CaCl2 and incubated with >/=0.5 nM alpha-thrombin for 10-60 s at 37 degrees C. As quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 0.32-0.59 nM TR-(1-41) was released from washed platelets (5 x 10(11) platelets/liter) after their incubation with 10 nM alpha-thrombin for 10 s. Parallel binding of alpha-thrombin to and activation of the platelets were confirmed by flow cytometry. A monoclonal antibody against the hirudin-like domain of the G-protein-linked receptor abrogated alpha-thrombin binding to platelets, cleavage of TR-(1-41), and platelet activation by </=1.0 nM (but not 10 nM) alpha-thrombin. Proteolysis of platelet GPIb with Serratia marcescens protease or O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase had no effect on alpha-thrombin binding to platelets or their subsequent activation. In contrast, chymotrypsin, which cleaves both GPIb and the G-protein-linked receptor, abrogated alpha-thrombin binding to platelets, TR-(1-41) release, and platelet activation. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies directed against the reported alpha-thrombin-binding site on GPIb inhibited neither alpha-thrombin binding to nor activation of the platelets. Thus, alpha-thrombin binds to and cleaves the G-protein-linked receptor when it activates platelets, and GPIb does not appear to serve as an important binding site when alpha-thrombin activates platelets.
Highlights
Binding of ␣-thrombin to platelets precedes platelet activation by this enzyme and two platelet membrane glycoproteins have been identified as thrombin-binding sites (1–12)
A monoclonal antibody against the hirudin-like domain of the G-protein-linked receptor abrogated ␣-thrombin binding to platelets, cleavage of TR-(1– 41), and platelet activation by 1.0 nM ␣-thrombin
It is possible that glycoprotein Ib (GPIb), by initiating ␣-thrombin binding to platelets, could localize ␣-thrombin to sites on platelets where the cleavage of the G-protein-linked ␣-thrombin receptor would be facilitated to cause platelet activation (19, 23)
Summary
Binding of ␣-thrombin to platelets precedes platelet activation by this enzyme and two platelet membrane glycoproteins have been identified as thrombin-binding sites (1–12). A monoclonal antibody against the hirudin-like domain of the G-protein-linked receptor abrogated ␣-thrombin binding to platelets, cleavage of TR-(1– 41), and platelet activation by 1.0 nM (but not 10 nM) ␣-thrombin.
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