Anion-binding Exosite Research Articles

Long-Range Allosteric Linkage Between Exosites Reciprocally Regulates the Zymogenicity of Prothrombin Derivatives

The binding of ligands to anion binding exosite I (ABEI) and exosite II (ABEII) on prothrombin (II) derivatives plays an integral role in regulating their function. These exosites are located on opposite faces of the proteinase domain and exhibit unique binding specificities. Fragment 1.2 (F12) binds to ABEII and acts as a zymogen-promoting allosteric ligand. Conversely, Na+ and active site ligands stabilize the proteinase state. Here, we investigated the allosteric linkage between ABEI and the Na+ binding site, active site or ABEII using multiple ABEI ligands and prothrombin derivatives differentially poised along the zymogen to proteinase continuum. Prethrombin 2 (P2) represents the most zymogen-like state that differs from thrombin (IIa) because it is not cleaved at the R320 site. To mimic the zymogen-like character of P2 in a cleaved IIa molecule, residues responsible for N-terminal insertion and proteinase formation (IVE) were swapped with TAT to produce IIaTAT, a mutant with vastly diminished proteolytic activity. Alanine was substituted with the catalytic serine residue in IIa (IIaS195A) to represent the proteinase without a ligand at its active site. The thermodynamics of interactions between the thrombin inhibitor and ABEI ligand hirugen (Hir) and the various reference states was assessed using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Titration of Hir into P2, IIaTAT or IIaS195A revealed thermodynamically more favorable binding to proteinase-like IIaS195A in comparison to zymogen-like P2 or IIaTAT. Binding of Hir to IIaS195A was affected by the concentration of Na+ at constant ionic strength. Global analysis done in the presence of increasing concentrations of Na+ revealed a 5-fold increase in Hir binding affinity when IIaS195A is ligated with Na+; demonstrating positive allosteric linkage between ABEI and Na+ binding. Using a truncated Staphylocoagulase variant that binds ABEI without N-terminus insertion (SC13-325), we found that SC13-325 binding alone promoted active site opening and fluorescent inhibitor incorporation in zymogen-like P2. These data reinforce the observation that ABEI ligands promote a proteinase-like state in prothrombin derivatives through positive allosteric linkage with the Na+ binding and active sites. Interestingly, inhibitor incorporation and ITC studies both showed that SC13-325 interacts poorly with II, but strongly with P2 despite both species being zymogens. These findings imply that the ABEII ligand F12, which is produced upon cleavage of II at R271 to form P2, may display negative allosteric linkage with ABEI. Titration of SC13-325 into pre-formed complexes of P2/F12 revealed a drastic reduction in affinity of SC13-325 for P2 when F12 is bound to ABEII. Thus, F12 binding at ABEII negatively affects ABEI binding. Further studies used soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) as the most physiologically pertinent ligand for ABEI. ITC and global analysis of the binding of F12 to P2 in the presence of different concentrations of sTM revealed a ~1200-fold decrease in binding affinity and enthalpy for either the binding of F12 to P2 bound to sTM or the binding of sTM to P2 bound to F12. These data illustrate the strong negative linkage associated with the binding of protein ligands to ABEI and ABEII which yields the appearance of competitive and mutually exclusive binding at the two sites despite the fact that they are on opposite sides of the proteinase domain. Allosteric linkage between ligand binding at the two exosites is centered on the ability of F12 binding to ABEII and favor zymogen-like forms and ligand binding to ABEI to favor proteinase-like forms. Thus, allosteric linkage among exosites is vital to the interconversion of prothrombin species along the zymogen to proteinase spectrum. These ligand-dependent conformational shifts and associated changes in function are likely to greatly contribute to the dynamic roles that IIa plays during coagulation. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Ligand Binding to Anion Binding Exosites as Prothrombin is Converted to Active Thrombin

The blood coagulant thrombin is originally expressed as the zymogen prothrombin (ProT). Prothrombin contains the F1.2 (Gla + Kringle 1 + Kringle 2) domain and the inactive serine protease prethrombin-2 (PT2). Kringle 2 of F1.2 protects an immature anion binding exosite on ProT called pro-ABE II. An immature, but unprotected, pro-ABE I site also exists on ProT. As part of the zymogen activation process, the prothrombinase complex can cleave ProT after R271 and release F1.2 from PT2. Subsequent cleavage of PT2 at R320 helps to generate active thrombin. Both anion binding exosites become fully mature upon production of thrombin. In the current work, solution NMR studies have been used to characterize the binding of GpIbα (269-286, 15N-labeled L275, 15N-labeled D277) to (pro)-ABE II and the binding of PAR3 (44-56, 15N-labeled F47, 15N-labeled D54 ) to (pro)-ABE I. The residues that are 15N-labeled have previously been shown by X-ray crystallography to make extensive contact with the thrombin surface. This observation is further supported by 1D proton NMR line broadening studies on the ligand-thrombin complexes. 15N-1H HSQC NMR titrations demonstrate that GpIbα (269-286, 15N-labeled L275, 15N-labeled D277) does not bind to the pro-ABE II site on human ProT. Ligand binding affinity to ABE II then increases as ProT is converted to PT2 and then thrombin. By contrast, HSQC NMR titrations reveal that the pro-ABE I site on ProT can already bind PAR3 (44-56, 15N-labeled F47, 15N-labeled D54). More selective therapeutics may take advantage of this immature ABE I site. Binding affinity for PAR3 (44-56) further increases as active thrombin is produced. After the two mature exosites are generated, thrombin is well poised to regulate several coagulation and anti-coagulation events.

Monitoring Conformational Changes that Occur to Blood Coagulant Prothrombin as it is Activated to Thrombin

The blood coagulation protein thrombin is originally expressed as the zymogen prothrombin (ProT). Prothrombin contains the F1.2 (Gla + Kringle 1 + Kringle 2) domain and the inactive serine protease prethrombin-2 (PT2). Kringle 2 of F1.2 protects an immature anion binding exosite on ProT called pro-ABE II. The prothrombinase complex converts ProT to thrombin. Cleavage of ProT after R271 releases F1.2 from PT2. Cleavage of PT2 at R320 helps to generate the active, two-chain species thrombin that contains an A and B chain linked by a disulfide. Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange coupled with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used to monitor the conformational dynamics of ProT, F1.2 + PT2, PT2, and thrombin. During the activation process, the A-chain and the autolysis loop undergo changes in solvent accessibility that respond to the individual R271 and R320 cleavages. The resultant conformational properties aid in creating a protease that can accept substrates at the active site. Importantly, this coagulation protein system also uses anion binding exosites to control its functions. F1.2 protects pro-ABE II on both ProT and PT2 from solvent exposure. Moreover, this binding event exhibits a long-range effect over to pro-ABE I suggesting an influence on development of inter-exosite communication. As F1.2 is removed and PT2 is activated to thrombin, pro-ABE I and II become more solvent exposed and mature into the functional exosites ABE I and II. HSQC NMR titrations with GpIbalpha (269-286, 15N-labeled L275, 15N-labeled D277) demonstrate that ligand binding affinity at pro-ABE II / ABE II increases as ProT is converted to PT2 and then thrombin. The final thrombin enzyme effectively accommodates substrates at its serine protease active site and utilizes its mature exosites to regulate several coagulation related activities.

Natural inhibitors of thrombin

The serine protease thrombin is the effector enzyme of blood coagulation. It has many activities critical for the formation of stable clots, including cleavage of fibrinogen to fibrin, activation of platelets and conversion of procofactors to active cofactors. Thrombin carries-out its multiple functions by utilising three special features: a deep active site cleft and two anion binding exosites (exosite I and II). Similarly, thrombin inhibitors have evolved to exploit the unique features of thrombin to achieve rapid and specific inactivation of thrombin. Exogenous thrombin inhibitors come from several different protein families and are generally found in the saliva of haematophagous animals (blood suckers) as part of an anticoagulant cocktail that allows them to feed. Crystal structures of several of these inhibitors reveal how peptides and proteins can be targeted to thrombin in different and interesting ways. Thrombin activity must also be regulated by endogenous inhibitors so that thrombi do not occlude blood flow and cause thrombosis. A single protein family, the serpins, provides all four of the endogenous thrombin inhibitors found in man. The crystal structures of these serpins bound to thrombin have been solved, revealing a similar exosite-dependence on complex formation. In addition to forming the recognition complex, serpins destroy the structure of thrombin, allowing them to be released from cofactors and substrates for clearance. This review examines how the special features of thrombin have been exploited by evolution to achieve inhibition of the ultimate coagulation protease.

Construction and Characterization of Novel Hirulog Variants with Antithrombin and Antiplatelet Activities

The RGD sequence was used to design potent hirudin isoform 3 mimetic peptides with both antithrombin activity and antiplatelet aggregation activity. The RGD and proline were inserted between the catalytic active binding domain (D-Phe-Pro-Arg-Pro) on the N-terminus and the anion-binding exosite binding domain (QGDFEPIPEDAYDE) on the Cterminus. Thrombin titration assay and ATP-induced platelet aggregation test revealed that the peptide with the linker RGDWP or RGDGP possessed potent antithrombin and antiplatelet activities, while other peptides without the Pro residue in the linker only showed antithrombin activity. Similar results were obtained in the RGD-containing hirulog-1 variants. Our study indicates that the inserted Pro residue facilitates the exposure of RGD and the binding of the peptide to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa). The strategy of combining the RGD sequence and the Pro residue may be used for future designs of bifunctional antithrombotic agents.

GpIbα Interacts Exclusively with Exosite II of Thrombin

Activation of platelets by the serine protease thrombin is a critical event in haemostasis. This process involves the binding of thrombin to glycoprotein Ibα (GpIbα) and cleavage of protease-activated receptors (PARs). The N-terminal extracellular domain of GpIbα contains an acidic peptide stretch that has been identified as the main thrombin binding site, and both anion binding exosites of thrombin have been implicated in GpIbα binding, but it remains unclear how they are involved. This issue is of critical importance for the mechanism of platelet activation by thrombin. If both exosites bind to GpIbα, thrombin could potentially act as a platelet adhesion molecule or receptor dimerisation trigger. Alternatively, if only a single site is involved, GpIbα may serve as a cofactor for PAR-1 activation by thrombin. To determine the involvement of thrombin's two exosites in GpIbα binding, we employed the complementary methods of mutational analysis, binding studies, X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Our results indicate that the peptide corresponding to the C-terminal portion of GpIbα and the entire extracellular domain bind exclusively to thrombin's exosite II. The interaction of thrombin with GpIbα thus serves to recruit thrombin activity to the platelet surface while leaving exosite I free for PAR-1 recognition.

Identification Of The Thrombin-Binding Site On Factor VIII Regulating Arg372 Cleavage In The Factor VIII Heavy Chain

Factor VIII is activated by cleavage at Arg372, Arg740, and Arg1689 by thrombin. Activated factor VIII (VIIIa) forms the tenase complex and markedly amplifies the activation of factor X as a cofactor of factor IX. We had demonstrated that thrombin interacts with factor VIII through the residues 392-394 and 484-509 in the A2 domain and the C2 domain, and each association regulates cleavage at Arg740, Arg372, and Arg1689, respectively (Nogami K, JBC 2000, 2005; BJH 2008). The A2 residues 484-509 partially contribute to cleavage at Arg372 by thrombin, however, the major thrombin binding-site(s) regulating cleavage at Arg372 is unclear. Thrombin recognizes macromolecular substrates and cofactors through either or both of two anion-binding exosite I and II (ABE-I and -II), which are characterized by a high density of solvent-exposed basic residues. ABE-I binds to fibrinogen and hirudin (residues 54-65), whilst ABE-II is primarily characterized as the heparin-binding exosite. The A1 domain of factor VIII also binds to thrombin through the ABE-I (Nogami K. JBC 2005). In this study, we attempted to identify the thrombin-binding region on A1, and focused on the A1 residues 340-350, involving the clustered acidic residues and similar sequences of hirudin (residues 54-65). A synthetic peptide corresponding to the A1 residues 340-350 with sulfated Tyr346 (340-350-S(+)) was prepared to investigate factor VIII interaction with thrombin. Activation of factor VIII (100 nM) by thrombin (0.4 nM) with various concentrations of peptide was evaluated by measurement of factor VIIIa activity in a one-stage clotting assay. A 340-350-S(+) peptide showed a dose-dependent inhibition (by ∼60%) of thrombin-catalyzed activation, and the IC50 was 75 µM. A non-sulfated peptide also showed a modest inhibition by ∼40% (IC50 >400 µM), however. An experiment using thrombin substrate S-2238 demonstrated that P340-350-S(+) did not affect the thrombin activity. The effect of 340-350-S(+) peptide on the thrombin-catalyzed cleavage of heavy chain was further examined by SDS-PAGE/western blotting.The peptide significantly blocked the cleavage at Arg372 in a timed- and dose-dependent manner (IC50; 150 µM), whilst of interest the cleavage at Arg740 was little affected. A non-sulfated peptide also delayed the cleavage at Arg372, with a modest fast cleavage compared to sulfated one. The peptide did not inhibit factor FXa-catalyzed reaction to factor VIII. Direct binding of 340-350-S(+) peptide to thrombin was examined by a surface resonance plasmon (SPR)-based assay and by the zero-length cross-linking reagent EDC. In SPR-based solid phase assay, thrombin bound to immobilized 340-350-S(+) peptide with high affinity (Kd; 1.13 nM). EDC cross-linking fluid phase assay similarly revealed that formation of EDC cross-linking product between the biotinylated 337-350-S(+) peptide and thrombin were observed, and this cross-linking was completely inhibited by non-labeled 340-350-S(+) peptide (IC50; 1.0 µM). Taken together, we demonstrated that the A1 residues 340-350 (NEEAED(sY)DDDL) involving sulfated Tyr346 contained the thrombin binding-site responsible for the proteolytic cleavage at Arg372 in factor VIII. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Congenital Prothrombin Deficiency: An Update

Prothrombin (factor II [FII]) deficiency is a rare inherited coagulation disorder, having a prevalence of approximately 1 in 2,000,000. Two phenotypes can be distinguished: (1) true hypoprothrombinemia (type I deficiency), characterized by concomitantly low levels of the zymogen antigen; and (2) dysprothrombinemia (type II deficiency), characterized by the normal or near-normal synthesis of a dysfunctional protein. In the latter case, recent studies showed that particular mutations in the catalytic domain of active thrombin can even impair the enzyme interaction with antithrombin, favoring thromboembolic diseases. In some cases, hypoprothrombinemia associated with dysprothrombinemia was also described in compound heterozygous defects. Prothrombin is essential for the development of mammalian organisms. No living patient with undetectable plasma prothrombin has been reported to date. Prothrombin is encoded by a ≈21 kb gene located on chromosome 11 and containing 14 exons. Thirty-nine different mutations have been identified and characterized in prothrombin deficiency. Many of these are present in the catalytic site, whereas some involve regulatory domains, such as the anion-binding exosite I, the Na+-binding loop, and the light A-chain. Most hypoprothrombinemia-associated mutations are missense, but nonsense mutations leading to stop codons and one single nucleotide deletion have also been identified. Finally, recent developments in the therapy of congenital prothrombin deficiency are presented and discussed.

Ligand Binding to Anion-binding Exosites Regulates Conformational Properties of Thrombin

Thrombin participates in coagulation, anticoagulation, and initiation of platelet activation. To fulfill its diverse roles and maintain hemostasis, this serine protease is regulated via the extended active site region and anion-binding exosites (ABEs) I and II. For the current project, amide proton hydrogen-deuterium exchange coupled with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used to characterize ligand binding to individual exosites and to investigate the presence of exosite-active site and exosite-exosite interactions. PAR3(44-56) and PAR1(49-62) were observed to bind to thrombin ABE I and then to exhibit long range effects over to ABE II. By contrast, Hirudin(54-65) focused more on ABE I and did not transmit influences over to ABE II. Although these three ligands were each directed to ABE I, they did not promote the same conformational consequences. D-Phe-Pro-Arg-chloromethyl ketone inhibition at the thrombin active site led to further local and long range consequences to thrombin-ABE I ligand complexes with the autolysis loop often most affected. When Hirudin(54-65) was bound to ABE I, it was still possible to bind GpIbα(269-286) or fibrinogen γ'(410-427) to ABE II. Each ligand exerted its predominant influences on thrombin and also allowed interexosite communication. The results obtained support the proposal that thrombin is a highly dynamic protein. The transmission of ligand-specific local and long range conformational events is proposed to help regulate this multifunctional enzyme.

Investigating the Role of T7 and T12 Residues on the Biological Properties of Thrombin-Binding Aptamer: Enhancement of Anticoagulant Activity by a Single Nucleobase Modification

An acyclic pyrimidine analogue, containing a five-member cycle fused on the pyrimidine ring, was synthesized and introduced at position 7 or 12 of the 15-mer oligodeoxynucleotide GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG, known as thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA). Characterization by 1H NMR and CD spectroscopies of the resulting aptamers, TBA-T7b and TBA-T12b, showed their ability to fold into the typical antiparallel chairlike G-quadruplex structure formed by TBA. The apparent CD melting temperatures indicated that the introduction of the acyclic residue, mainly at position 7, improves the thermal stability of resulting G-quadruplexes with respect to TBA. The anticoagulant activity of the new molecules was then valued in PT assay, and it resulted that TBA-T7b is more potent than TBA in prolonging clotting time. On the other hand, in purified fibrinogen assay the thrombin inhibitory activity of both modified sequences was lower than that of TBA using human enzyme, whereas the potency trend was again reversed using bovine enzyme. Obtained structure-activity relationships were investigated by structural and computational studies. Taken together, these results reveal the active role of TBA residues T7 and T12 and the relevance of some amino acids located in the anion binding exosite I of the protein in aptamer-thrombin interaction.

Role of Electrostatic Interactions in Binding of Thrombin to the Fibrinogen γ′ Chain

Thrombin binds to the highly anionic fibrinogen γ' chain through anion-binding exosite II. This binding profoundly alters thrombin's ability to cleave substrates, including fibrinogen, factor VIII, and PAR1. However, it is unknown whether this interaction is due mainly to general electrostatic complementarity between the γ' chain and exosite II or if there are critical charged γ' chain residues involved. We therefore systematically determined the contribution of negatively charged amino acids in the γ' chain, both individually and collectively, to thrombin binding affinity. Surface plasmon resonance binding experiments were performed using immobilized γ' chain peptides with charged-to-uncharged amino acid substitutions, i.e., Asp to Asn, Glu to Gln, and pTyr to Tyr. Individually, the substitution of uncharged for charged amino acids resulted in only minor changes in binding affinity, with a maximal change in K(d) from 0.440 to 0.705 μM for the Asp419Asn substitution. However, substitution of all three charged amino acids in a conserved β-turn that is predicted to contact thrombin, pTyr418Tyr, Asp419Asn, and pTyr422Tyr, resulted in the loss of measurable binding, as did substitution of all the flanking charged amino acids. In addition, the binding of the γ' chain to thrombin was weakened in a dose-dependent manner with increasing NaCl concentration, resulting in a net loss of three or four ion pairs between thrombin and the γ' chain. Therefore, although each of the individual charges in the γ' chain contributes only incrementally to the overall binding affinity, the ensemble of the combined charges plays a profound role in the thrombin-γ' chain interactions.

Allosteric activation of human α-thrombin through exosite 2 by suramin analogs

Thrombin is a serine protease that plays fundamental roles in hemostasis. We have recently elucidated the crystal structure of thrombin in complex with suramin, evidencing the interaction through the anion binding exosite 2. Here, we show that the activity of thrombin toward natural and synthetic substrates is enhanced by suramin as well as analogs of suramin at a low micromolar range prior to an inhibitory component at higher concentrations. Suramin analogs substituted by phenyl and chlorine instead of methyl were the most efficient in promoting allosteric activation, with an enhancement of enzymatic activity of 250% and 630% respectively. We discuss the importance of exosite 2 as a regulatory site for ligands in both the procoagulant and inhibitory scenarios.

Function and Dynamics of Thrombin by NMR

Thrombin is a serine protease that plays an essential role in the blood-clotting cascade, cleaving soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin and activating platelets. Thrombin is also involved in tissue repair, angiogenesis and inflammation via the activation of the PAR-1 and PAR-3 receptors. In its positive feedback loop, thrombin activates factors XI, V, and VIII to promote further clotting. When thrombin binds thrombomodulin (TM) at anion binding exosite 1 (ABE1) the feedback loop becomes negative by activating protein C, which in turn inactivates factors VIIIa and Va, decreasing the rate of thrombin activation. The mechanism of the thrombin specificity change from procoagulant to anticoagulant remains elusive since crystal structures of thrombin bound to TM show no structural change in the active site. NMR provides the residue specific resolution needed to study the dynamics and the contribution to thrombin function. Near complete assignments of thrombin backbone resonances have been achieved using high-field TROSY based methods to study [2H,15N,13C]thrombin. Relaxation and relaxation dispersion experiments performed on thrombin covalently inhibited with PPACK show functional regions with increased dynamics, including ABE1, the γ-loop, and ABE 2. Analysis of residual dipolar couplings in light of accelerated molecular dynamics simulations indicated a structural ensemble that is highly mobile in several timescales, providing a path forward towards understanding the role of dynamics and conformational fluctuations on catalysis and substrate interactions in thrombin.

Probing the Pro- and Anti-Coagulant Interactions of Thrombin

Thrombin is a serine protease that is central to the coagulation cascade. It functions both as a pro-coagulant, through the cleavage of fibrinogen and protease-activated receptors, and as an anti-coagulant primarily through the thrombomodulin (TM)-mediated cleavage of Protein C which functions as negative feedback for thrombin production. Fully understanding the physical behavior of thrombin is critical for the treatment of a number of blood related illnesses such as strokes and sepsis. in our research we seek to better understand the allosteric conversion of thrombin from pro- to anti-coagulant using various biophysical techniques. Using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, we have shown a thermodynamic connection between the anion-binding exosite I (ABEI) and the active site in both active and inhibited forms of thrombin. A fluorescent active site analog, DAMPA, binds with enthalpies differing by up to 1.7 kcal/mol between thrombin and TM-bound thrombin. However, this change in enthalpy is offset by an entropic compensation resulting in an unchanged binding free energy. Furthermore, a similar change is seen when a DNA aptamer for ABEI binds to free and covalently inhibited thrombin. Additionally, we have developed new constructs of thrombomodulin that demonstrate similar binding affinity and effectiveness to natural thrombomodulin, which together with fluorescent and calorimetric characterization techniques presents a strong new tool for further illuminating the interactions of thrombin and thrombomodulin.

Bivalirudin Inhibits Periprocedural Platelet Function and Tissue Factor Expression of Human Smooth Muscle Cells

A major concern of stent implantation after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is acute stent thrombosis. Effective inhibition of periprocedural platelet function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) leads to an improved outcome. In this study, we examined the periprocedural platelet reactivity after administrating bivalirudin during PCI compared to unfractionated heparin (UFH) administration. Further, the effect of bivalirudin on induced tissue factor (TF) expression in smooth muscle cells (SMC) was determined. Patients with CAD (n = 58) and double antithrombotic medication were treated intraprocedural with UFH (n = 30) or bivalirudin (n = 28). Platelet activation markers were flow cytometrically measured before and after stenting. The expression of TF in SMC was determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. The thrombogenicity of platelet-derived microparticles and SMC was assessed via a TF activity assay. Bivalirudin significantly diminished the agonist-induced platelet reactivity post-PCI. Compared to UFH treatment, the adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP)-induced thrombospondin expression post-PCI was reduced when bivalirudin was administrated during intervention. In contrast to UFH, bivalirudin reduced the P-selectin expression of unstimulated and ADP-induced platelets post-PCI. Moreover, bivalirudin inhibited the thrombin-, but not FVIIa- or FVIIa/FX-induced TF expression and pro-coagulant TF activity of SMC. Moreover, bivalirudin reduced the TF activity of platelet-derived microparticles postinduction with TRAP or ADP. Bivalirudin is better than UFH in reducing periprocedural platelet activation. Moreover, thrombin-induced TF expression is inhibited by bivalirudin. Thus, bivalirudin seems to be a better anticoagulant during PCI than UFH.

English

We have shown previously that oligonucleotide conjugated hirulog (bivalirudin) has a higher inhibitory activity against thrombin compared with hirulog. The negative charged oligonucleotide was considered to be responsible for the additive activity. To further investigate the related effect of oligonucleotide, the oligonucleotide conjugated hirulog18 was prepared in the present work and the activity of the conjugate against thrombin was measured. Hirulog18, a peptide lack of two N-terminal amino acid residues of hirulog, has little inhibitory activity against thrombin compared with hirulog. The conjugate oligonucleotide-hiruglog18 was successfully synthesized using click chemistry and validated by MALDI-MS and gel electrophoresis. The activity of the conjugate against thrombin was measured by the chromogenic assay using Chromozym TH as substrate. It was found surprisingly that oligonucleotide-hirulog18 had an inhibitory effect better than hirulog18 and hirulog. Strong negative charged heparin was used to study the binding mode between oligonucleotide-hirulog18 and thrombin. The results suggested that the negative charged oligonucleotide could be helpful for the conjugate's binding to the anion-binding exosite of thrombin via the Coulomb force. The highly inhibitory effect of the oligonucleotide-hirulog18 conjugate against thrombin may present a new strategy to generate a novel class of direct

Hirudin and heparin enable efficient megakaryocyte differentiation of mouse bone marrow progenitors

Hematopoietic progenitors from murine fetal liver efficiently differentiate in culture into proplatelet-producing megakaryocytes and have proved valuable to study platelet biogenesis. In contrast, megakaryocyte maturation is far less efficient in cultured bone marrow progenitors, which hampers studies in adult animals. It is shown here that addition of hirudin to media containing thrombopoietin and serum yielded a proportion of proplatelet-forming megakaryocytes similar to that in fetal liver cultures (approximately 50%) with well developed extensions and increased the release of platelet particles in the media. The effect of hirudin was maximal at 100 U/ml, and was more pronounced when it was added in the early stages of differentiation. Hirugen, which targets the thrombin anion binding exosite I, and argatroban, a selective active site blocker, also promoted proplatelet formation albeit less efficiently than hirudin. Heparin, an indirect thrombin blocker, and OTR1500, a stable heparin-like synthetic glycosaminoglycan generated proplatelets at levels comparable to hirudin. Heparin with low affinity for antithrombin was equally as effective as standard heparin, which indicates antithrombin independent effects. Use of hirudin and heparin compounds should lead to improved culture conditions and facilitate studies of platelet biogenesis in adult mice.

Activation of factor XI by products of prothrombin activation

AbstractThe prothrombinase complex converts prothrombin to α-thrombin through the intermediate meizothrombin (Mz-IIa). Both α-thrombin and Mz-IIa catalyze factor (F) XI activation to FXIa, which sustains α-thrombin production through activation of FIX. The interaction with FXI is thought to involve thrombin anion binding exosite (ABE) I. α-Thrombin can undergo additional proteolysis to β-thrombin and γ-thrombin, neither of which have an intact ABE I. In a purified protein system, FXI is activated by β-thrombin or γ-thrombin, and by α-thrombin in the presence of the ABE I-blocking peptide hirugen, indicating that a fully formed ABE I is not absolutely required for FXI activation. In a FXI-dependent plasma thrombin generation assay, β-thrombin, γ-thrombin, and α-thrombins with mutations in ABE I are approximately 2-fold more potent initiators of thrombin generation than α-thrombin or Mz-IIa, possibly because fibrinogen, which binds to ABE I, competes poorly with FXI for forms of thrombin lacking ABE I. In addition, FXIa can activate factor FXII, which could contribute to thrombin generation through FXIIa-mediated FXI activation. The data indicate that forms of thrombin other than α-thrombin contribute directly to feedback activation of FXI in plasma and suggest that FXIa may provide a link between tissue factor-initiated coagulation and the proteases of the contact system.

Comparative thermodynamic analysis of thrombin interaction with anti-thrombin aptamers and their heterodimeric construct

Aptamers interacting selectively with the anion-binding exosites 1 and 2 of thrombin were merged into dimeric oligonucleotide constructs with use of a poly-(dT)-linker of 35 nucleotides (nt) long. Complexes of thrombin with the aptamers and their hetero- and homodimeric constructs were measured using the optical biosensor Biacore-3000. K(D) values measured for the hetero- and homodimeric constructs were correspondingly 25-30- and 2-3-fold lower than those for the primary aptamers. Analysis of temperature dependencies of K(D) values within the temperature interval of 10 degrees C-40 degrees C has shown that the values of enthalpy change deltaH upon formation of complexes of thrombin with the aptamers and the hetrodimeric construct are close. The value of the entropy change deltaS upon complex formation of thrombin with the aptamer heterodimeric construct was 1.5-2-fold higher than deltaS values for the complexes with the aptamers. The complex formation and dissociation rates increased with the elevation of temperature from 10 degrees C to 37 degrees C. However, the dissociation rate for the complex of thrombin with the heterodimeric construct was evidently lower that that for the complexes with the aptamers.

Combined blockade of thrombin anion binding exosite-1 and PAR4 produces synergistic antiplatelet effect in human platelets

Thrombin exosite-1 mediates the specific binding of thrombin with fibrinogen and protease-activated receptor (PAR) 1. Exosite-1 inhibitors have been shown to effectively decrease the clotting activity of thrombin, while their antiplatelet effects are relatively weak. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of two exosite-1 inhibitors, hirugen and HD1, but not the exosite-2 inhibitor HD22, on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and P-selectin expression were dramatically enhanced by a PAR4 antagonist, YD-3. In contrast, the PAR1 antagonist SCH-79797 did not affect the antiplatelet effects of exosite-1 inhibitors. The exosite-1 inhibitors and YD-3 prevented the Ca2+ spike and the prolonged Ca2+ response in thrombin-stimulated platelets, respectively; and combination of these two classes of agents led to abolishment of Ca2+ signal. Unlike exosite-1 inhibitors, the antiplatelet effects of the active site inhibitor PPACK and the bivalent inhibitor bivalirudin were not significantly enhanced by YD-3. In addition, the platelet-stimulating activity of γ-thrombin, an autolytic product of α-thrombin which lacks exosite-1, was inhibited by YD-3. These results suggest that the synergistic antiplatelet effects of exosite-1 inhibitor and PAR4 antagonist are resulted from combined blockade of PAR1 and PAR4 in platelets. In fibrinogen or plasma clotting assay, YD-3 neither prolonged the clotting time on its own nor enhanced the anticoagulant activity of exosite-1 inhibitors. Therefore, the combined blockade of exosite-1 and PAR4 may offer a potential strategy for improving the balance of benefits and risks of antithrombotic therapy.