Antithrombin Molecule Research Articles

Exploring antithrombin: insights into its physiological features, clinical implications and analytical techniques.

Antithrombin is an essential protein that acts as a natural anticoagulant in the human body. It is synthesized by the liver and belongs to the serine protease inhibitors, which are commonly referred to as the SERPINS superfamily. The antithrombin molecule comprises 432 amino acids and has a molecular weight of approximately 58 200 D. It consists of three domains, including an amino-terminal domain, a carbohydrate-rich domain, and a carboxyl-terminal domain. The amino-terminal domain binds with heparin, whereas the carboxyl-terminal domain binds with serine protease. Antithrombin is a crucial natural anticoagulant that contributes approximately 60-80% of plasma anticoagulant activities in the human body. Moreover, antithrombin has anti-inflammatory effects that can be divided into coagulation-dependent and coagulation-independent effects. Furthermore, it exhibits antitumor activity and possesses a broad range of antiviral properties. Inherited type I antithrombin deficiency is a quantitative disorder that is characterized by low antithrombin activity due to low plasma levels. On the other hand, inherited type II antithrombin deficiency is a qualitative disorder that is characterized by defects in the antithrombin molecule. Acquired antithrombin deficiencies are more common than hereditary deficiencies and are associated with various clinical conditions due to reduced synthesis, increased loss, or enhanced consumption. The purpose of this review was to provide an update on the structure, functions, clinical implications, and methods of detection of antithrombin.

Doenitin-1: A novel Kunitz family protein with versatile functions during feeding and reproduction of the tick Haemaphysalis doenitzi.

As obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites, ticks secrete a great diversity of antithrombin molecules during feeding. In this study, a novel antithrombin gene named Doenitin-1 was characterized from the tick Haemaphysalis doenitzi. It has an open reading frame size of 426 bp; it encodes 141 amino acids and has a predicted molecular weight of 15.8 kDa. The fibrinogen coagulation test showed that the time of coagulation was increased significantly with increase in rDoenitin-1 protein concentration, and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) assays showed that rDoenitin-1 significantly prolonged the coagulation time of APTT, indicating that rDoenitin-1 has an anticoagulant activity in vitro. In addition, rDoenitin-1 presents a significant inhibitory activity in thrombin and cathepsin G. The hemolysis rate of rDoenitin-1 in healthy human blood cells was 4.25%, and no obvious hemolysis activity was observed. The comparison with other life stages shows that the higher expression occurs in adults, and tissue comparison indicated a higher expression in the midgut. The RNAi results indicated that interference of Doenitin-1 significantly reduced the engorgement rate and egg hatchability of H. doenitzi, and that the engorged body weight was slightly reduced. In conclusion, the results suggested that the novel gene Doenitin-1 functions in blood-feeding of H. doenitzi and performs various functions during feeding and reproduction of H. doenitzi. Doenitin-1 may be a potential vaccine candidate for tick control and for developing new antithrombotic drugs in the future.

Microplate-based antithrombin activity bioassay for Shuxuetong Injection through aptamer-thrombin capturing coupled with chromogenic substrate hydrolysis

Shuxuetong Injection (SXT) is one kind of herbal injections derived from leech (Whitmania pigra) and earthworm (Pheretima aspergillum). It exhibits powerful therapeutic effects on “blood stasis and stagnation (yu xue yu zhi)”, particularly in patients with stroke and myocardial infarction. However, adverse reactions caused by quality problems occur occasionally. We described an aptamer-based bioassay for antithrombin activity of SXT. The antithrombin activity was obtained by calculating the inhibition rate of thrombin catalytic activity toward chromogenic substrates in the presence of SXT. The choice of aptamers was investigated, and one 29-mer aptamer (denoted as Apt29) was chosen. Taking advantage of aptamer-thrombin complex on microplate to specifically capture thrombin-binding molecules from SXT, this assay effectively eliminates the interference from other complex components with the interactions among thrombin, antithrombin molecules and substrates, which existed in the conventional substrate method, and achieves accuracy and sensitivity of antithrombin activity detection. The average intra-day and inter-day precisions, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), were 3.3% and less than 10%, respectively. Eight batches of SXT were detected. The antithrombin activity was ranged from 22.1% to 37.8% and the RSD was 22.5%, which showed the batch-to-batch variability. The accuracy of the method was validated by comparing the antithrombin activity of SXT detected by it with that measured by the fibrinogen clotting assay and the fluorometric peptide substrate assay. The approach proved to be applicable to test the antithrombin activity of SXT. This assay offers benefits in fast, simple and high throughput analysis and will be helpful for bioactivity determination and quality control of herbal injections.

Antithrombin p.Thr147Ala: The First Founder Mutation in People of African Origin Responsible for Inherited Antithrombin Deficiency.

Hereditary antithrombin deficiency is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder predisposing to recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). To date, only two founder mutations have been described. We investigated the antithrombin p.Thr147Ala variant, found in 12 patients of African origin. This variant is known as rs2227606 with minor allele frequency of 0.5% in Africans and absent in Europeans. A possible founder effect was investigated. Phenotypical characterization was established through immunological and functional methods, both under basal and stress conditions. Recombinant antithrombin molecules were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in HEK-293T cells. Secreted antithrombin was purified and functionally characterized. Structural modeling was performed to predict the impact of the mutation on protein structure. A novel nanopore sequencing approach was used for haplotype investigation. Ten patients experienced VTE, stroke, or obstetric complications. Antithrombin antigen levels and anti-IIa activity were normal or slightly reduced while anti-Xa activity was reduced with only one commercial assay. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis, an increase of antithrombin fractions with reduced heparin affinity was observed under high ionic strength conditions but not under physiological conditions. The recombinant p.Thr147Ala protein displayed a reduced anti-Xa activity. Structural modeling revealed that residue Thr147 forms three hydrogen bonds that are abolished when mutated to alanine. The investigated patients shared a common haplotype involving 13 SERPINC1 intragenic single nucleotide polymorphisms. Antithrombin p.Thr147Ala, responsible for antithrombin type II heparin binding site deficiency, is the first founder mutation reported in people of African ancestry. This study further emphasizes the limitations of commercial methods to diagnose this specific subtype.

Conformational Dynamics of Antithrombin III With its Allosteric Activator Heparin

Antithrombin III (ATIII) is a serpin that is involved in the regulation of blood coagulation through the inhibition of blood clotting enzymes. Heparin is an allosteric activator of ATIII that binds to helix-D and causes a conformational change in the reactive center loop (RCL), expelling it from its position partially inserted into beta-sheet A. RCL expulsion in turn increases ATIII activity toward fXa several hundred-fold. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry were used to probe the dynamics of ATIII in the presence and absence of a synthetic heparin pentasaccharide (Fondaparinux). Results of our initial hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry experiments provide direct, solution phase evidence that heparin cofactor binding alters conformational dynamics in four specific regions of the antithrombin molecule. (1) Helix D -- Heparin binding reduced H/D, consistent with hD extension upon cofactor binding. (2) Breach region -- Beta strands 3A and 5A, flanking the site for RCL insertion into sheet A, showed reduced H/D exchange, consistent with increased rigidity of the breach region and stabilization of a loop-expelled form. (3) Proximal RCL and hinge region -- H/D exchange for residues 376-387, which includes the N-terminal hinge region of the RCL, increased in the presence of heparin, indicating greater solvent exposure and expulsion from beta sheet A. (4) Distal RCL -- Deuterium exchange for 388-402, which includes s1C and the distal side of the RCL, decreased significantly in the presence of heparin, suggesting that s1C extension-mediated stabilization on the C-terminal side of RCL contributes to exposure of the proximal its end upon cofactor binding. Thus, dynamic H/D exchange studies of free and heparin-bound antithrombin molecules in solution will be useful for validating and refining models of ATIII heparin activation inferred from crystal structures.

Identification and characterization of novel salivary thrombin inhibitors from the ixodidae tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis.

Novel antithrombin molecules were identified from the ixodidae tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. These molecules, named madanin 1 and 2, are 7-kDa proteins and show no significant similarities to any previously identified proteins. Assays using human plasma showed that madanin 1 and 2 dose-dependently prolonged both activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time, indicating that they inhibit both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Direct binding assay by surface plasmon resonance measurement demonstrated that madanin 1 and 2 specifically interacted with thrombin. Furthermore, it was clearly shown that madanin 1 and 2 inhibited conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin by thrombin, thrombin-catalyzed activation of factor V and factor VIII, and thrombin-induced aggregation of platelets without affecting thrombin amidolytic activity. These results suggest that madanin 1 and 2 bind to the anion-binding exosite 1 on the thrombin molecule, but not to the active cleft, and interfere with the association of fibrinogen, factor V, factor VIII and thrombin receptor on platelets with an anion-binding exosite 1. They appear to be exosite 1-directed competitive inhibitors.

Conformational equilibrium of the reactive center loop of antithrombin examined by steady state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements: consequences for the mechanism of factor Xa inhibition by antithrombin-heparin complexes.

Activation of antithrombin by high-affinity heparin as an inhibitor of factor Xa has been ascribed to an allosteric switch between two conformations of the reactive center loop. However, we have previously shown that other, weaker binding, charged polysaccharides can give intermediate degrees of activation [Gettins, P. G. W., et al. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 8385-8389]. To examine whether such intermediate activation results from different reactive center loop conformations or, more simply, from a different equilibrium constant between the same two extreme conformations, we have used NBD covalently bound at the P1 position of an engineered R393C variant of antithrombin as a fluorescent reporter group and measured fluorescence lifetimes of the label in free antithrombin as well as in antithrombin saturated with long-chain high-affinity heparin, high-affinity heparin pentasaccharide, long-chain low-affinity heparin, and dextran sulfate. Steady state emission spectra, anisotropies, and dynamic quenching measurements were also recorded. We found that the large steady state fluorescence enhancements produced by binding of activators resulted from relief of a static quench of fluorescence of NBD in approximately 50% of the labeled antithrombin molecules rather than from any large change in lifetimes, and that similar lifetimes were found for NBD in all activated antithrombin-oligosaccharide complexes. Similar anisotropies and positions of the NBD emission maxima were also found in the absence and presence of activators. In addition, NBD was accessible to quenching agents in both the absence and presence of activators, with an at most 2-fold increase in quenching constants between these two extremes. The simplest interpretation of the partial static quench in the absence of activators, the different degrees of enhancement by different antithrombin activators, and the similar fluorescence properties and quenching behavior of the different states is that there are two distinct types of conformational equilibrium involving three distinct states of antithrombin, which we designate A, A', and B. A and A' represent low-affinity or inactive states of approximately equal energy, both having the hinge residues inserted into beta-sheet A. A is fluorescent, while A' is statically quenched. State B represents the activated loop-expelled conformation in which none of the NBD fluorophores are statically quenched, as a result of the loop, including the P1-NBD, moving away from the body of the antithrombin. Different activators are able to shift the equilibrium to the high-activity (B) state to different extents and hence give different degrees of measured activity, and different degrees of relief of static quench. The similar properties and accessibility of the NBD in the A and B conformations also indicate that the P1 side chain is not buried in the low-activity A conformation, suggesting that an earlier proposal that activation involves exposure of the P1 side chain cannot be the explanation for activation. As an alternative explanation, heparin activation may give access to an exosite on antithrombin for binding to factor Xa and hence be the principal basis for enhancement of the rate of inhibition.

The Conformational Basis of Thrombosis

Antithrombin readily undergoes a spontaneous transition from its active five-stranded form to a six-stranded inactive latent form. The recognition of this change in plasma has been obscured by the immediate linkage of newly formed latent antithrombin to a molecule of active antithrombin to give a dimer with an electrophoretic mobility readily confused with that of native active antithrombin. A new micromethod now allows unequivocal identification of latent antithrombin in whole plasma. This shows that at 37 degrees C some 10% of plasma antithrombin is converted to the latent form in 24 h. The rate of conversion is greatly accelerated at increased temperatures, as occurs in the pasteurisation of plasma concentrates that should now be checked for efficacy. But increased transition also occurs in the plasma at the slightly increased temperatures that accompany incidental infections. This is of particular significance if there is a conformationally unstable variant of antithrombin; here fever can provoke a sudden transition with the onset of a characteristically severe episode of thromboembolism. Such variants are not rare and include those previously classified as pleiotropic. The precise structural pathway, now known with antithrombin, provides a model of the changes occurring in other conformational diseases, including Alzheimer's and the prion dementias.

Antithrombin‐TRI (Ala 382 to Thr) causing severe thromboembolic tendency undergoes the S‐to‐R transition and is associated with a plasma‐inactive high‐molecular‐weight complex of aggregated antithrombin

An antithrombin (AT) variant Ala382 to Thr (AT-TRI) was identified by mass spectrometric techniques. The variant behaved as a substrate rather than a thrombin inhibitor, but, contrary to previously described P12 AT variants, AT-TRI, expressed as a heterozygous dominant trait, caused severe thromboembolic tendency beginning in their teens in affected members of an English family. In addition, it underwent the S-to-R conformational state transition as evidenced by an increased resistance to thermal denaturation on active centre cleavage, but did not react with a monoclonal antibody, 4C9, directed against a neoepitope that is present on complexed and cleaved normal AT. Antithrombin-TRI, in plasma, was also associated with an abnormal high molecular weight (M(r)) 194,000) component composed of non-covalently-linked antithrombin molecules. This component (D194) showed low affinity for heparin and was devoid of antithrombin progressive activity. D194, isolated by ammonium sulphate precipitation and three chromatographic steps (heparin Sepharose, ion exchange and immunoaffinity), migrated as a single band of M(r) 60,000 on SDS-PAGE under both reducing and non-reducing conditions and was recognized by monospecific anti-human antithrombin antibodies, but did not immunoreact with antibodies raised against a number of proteins including albumin and thrombin. The above data and the fact that the 15 N-terminal amino acids of this M(r) 60,000 band were identical to that of normal antithrombin indicated that the inactive D194 component was composed of aggregated antithrombin molecules, possibly antithrombin trimers. In conclusion, early adulthood severe thromboembolic tendency, failure to expose the 4C9 epitope, and presence of aggregated AT molecules in the plasma are characteristic features of AT-TRI not previously described in other ALA-382 THR mutations.

An overview of the mechanism of action of antithrombin and its inherited deficiency states.

Antithrombin is the most important physiological inhibitor of the various activated serine protease clotting factors, particularly thrombin. In vitro, the inhibition of thrombin by antithrombin is very slow; but greatly enhanced by heparin and related glycosaminoglycans. When a serine protease interacts with antithrombin, the two proteins form a covalent stable stoichiometric 1:1 complex that is rapidly removed from the circulation. The formation of this stable covalent complex involves the cleavage of the reactive centre of the inhibitor at arginine 393-serine 394 by the active site serine residue of the protease. This is followed by the formation of an ester linkage between the active site serine residue of the protease and the arginine 393 residue of the cleaved antithrombin molecule. The existence of an antithrombin deficiency state was first recognized in 1965, in a family some of whose members suffered from recurrent episodes of venous thrombosis. Subsequently, many kindreds with antithrombin deficiency have been described from diverse geographic locations. Moreover, the prevalence of antithrombin deficiency in the general population has been reported to vary from 1:500 to 1:5000. With the advent of recombinant DNA techniques, the definition of the molecular pathology of antithrombin deficiency has allowed the characterization of the specific mutation in more than 150 kindreds. Approximately 60 different mutations, resulting in either an absent or a pathological antithrombin gene product, have been reported. Inherited antithrombin deficiency is a well-recognized cause of predisposition to venous thrombosis and in a large type 2 antithrombin-deficient kindred with an alanine 382 threonine mutation (antithrombin-Hamilton), less than 20% of affected individuals were found to have objective evidence for past thrombotic events. In most of these, the initial thrombotic episode occurred when a predisposing factor was present (pregnancy, surgery, oral contraception, trauma, etc.). The incidence of thrombotic events in subjects with inherited antithrombin deficiency thus appears to be significantly lower than heretofore estimated; moreover, such events appear to occur predominantly in association with predisposing factors. Insights from studies of patients with inherited antithrombin deficiency could provide useful information in the management of those with acquired antithrombin deficiency.

Sedimentation study on the binding of fibrinogen or of antithrombin III with acidic polysaccharides including heparin

The binding of fibrinogen with heparin and dextran sulfates, and of antithrombin III with heparin and dextran sulfate were investigated by sedimentation velocity method. From the measurement of fibrinogen-acidic polysaccharide systems, it was confirmed that heparin and low molecular weight dextran sulfate(DSC) forms soluble complexes with fibrinogen, though the amount bound of the latter was rather small compared with high molecular weight dextran sulfate(DSD). Antithrombin III was also found to be bound by heparin and DSC. The numbers of heparin molecules bound to one molecule of fibrinogen and antithrombin III were estimated to be 4.2 and 0.3, respectively.

A fragment of antithrombin that binds both heparin and thrombin.

In order to identify the regions of antithrombin that interact with heparin and thrombin, it was degraded with CNBr and the activities of the isolated products were investigated. These fragments did not exhibit direct thrombin-neutralizing activity; however, one unique fragment was found to bind to heparin-Sepharose and also to interfere with the inhibition of thrombin by intact antithrombin. This fragment was identified as the one consisting of three disulphide-linked polypeptide chains containing residues 1-17, 104-251 and 424-432. At a concentration of 46 nM, this product decreased the heparin-enhanced thrombin-inhibitory activity of antithrombin by half, and completely abolished this inhibition when above 300 nM. In the absence of heparin, the action of antithrombin was not completely nullified by the fragment, even when present at relatively high concentrations. At a given fragment concentration, the extent of inhibition was independent of antithrombin concentration over the range tested. It was found that the fragment decreased the second-order rate constant for the antithrombin-thrombin reaction. Reduction and alkylation of the fragment showed that the above properties reside primarily in the peptide with residues 104-251. It is concluded that this peptide possesses portions of the antithrombin molecule that bind to heparin as well as to a site on thrombin.

Denaturation behavior of antithrombin in guanidinium chloride. Irreversibility of unfolding caused by aggregation.

The structural stability of the protease inhibitor antithrombin from bovine plasma was examined as a function of the concentration of guanidinium chloride (GdmCl). A biphasic unfolding curve at pH 7.4, with midpoints for the two phases at 0.8 and 2.8 M GdmCl, was measured by far-ultraviolet circular dichroism. Spectroscopic and hydrodynamic analyses suggest that the intermediate state which exists at 1.5 M GdmCl involves a partial unfolding of the antithrombin molecule that exposes regions of the polypeptide chain through which slow, intermolecular association subsequently takes place. The partially unfolded molecule can be reversed to its fully functional state only before the aggregation occurs. Upon return of the aggregated state to dilute buffer, the partially unfolded antithrombin remains aggregated and does not regain the spectroscopic properties, thrombin-inhibitory activity, or heparin affinity of the native inhibitor. This behavior indicates that the loss of the functional properties of the proteins is caused by the macromolecular association. Comparative experiments gave similar results for the human inhibitor. Analyses of bovine antithrombin in 6 M GdmCl indicated that the second transition reflects the total unfolding of the protein to a disulfide-cross-linked random coil. This transition is spectroscopically reversible; however, on further reversal to dilute buffer, the molecules apparently are trapped in the partially unfolded, aggregated, intermediate state. The results are consistent with the existence of two separate domains in antithrombin which unfold at different concentrations of GdmCl but do not support the contention that the thrombin-binding and heparin-binding regions of the protein are located in different domains [Villanueva, G. B., & Allen, N. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 14048-14053].

An abnormal plasma antithrombin with no apparent affinity for heparin

Congenital antithrombin abnormality was found in several members of a French family. No history of thrombotic episodes was associated with this abnormality. Plasma antithrombin concentration as well as the rate of thrombin inactivation by defibrinated plasma in the absence of heparin were normal. However, the heparin cofactor activity was decreased by about 50 % in plasma of affected patients. Accordingly, about half the amount of plasma antithrombin did not bind to gel bound heparin. Moreover the crossed immunoelectrophoretic pattern in the presence of heparin demonstrated two peaks of antithrombin, the slower one migrating as normal antithrombin when heparin was omitted from the first agarose gel. It was concluded that molecular alteration of the antithrombin molecule seemed to affect only the heparin binding site thus preventing from any rate enhancement of thrombin inactivation.

Pyridoxylation of essential lysines in the heparin-binding site of antithrombin III.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was used to selectively modify lysine residues on antithrombin III. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was incubated with antithrombin, and the Schiff base was reduced with sodium borohydride. A maximum of 3-4 pyridoxal 5'-phosphate groups per antithrombin molecule are bound at high concentrations of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. A linear decrease in heparin cofactor activity was observed with the incorporation of the first three pyridoxyl phosphate groups. Modification in the presence of added heparin decreased the extent of labeling by 1-2 mol of pyridoxyl phosphate per mol of antithrombin and protected against the loss of heparin cofactor activity. To further examine the role of lysine residues in the interaction of antithrombin III with heparin, the protein was singly labeled with pyridoxyl phosphate and affinity fractionated on heparin-agarose. Three species, each containing approximately one pyridoxyl phosphate group per antithrombin, were obtained. Two of these derivatives had reduced affinity for heparin-agarose, exhibited decreased heparin cofactor activity, and did not show enhanced tryptophan fluorescence upon addition of heparin. The third derivatives possessed high affinity for heparin-agarose, retained native-like heparin cofactor activity, and when titrated with heparin gave a 30-35% increase in tryptophan fluorescence. Fluorescence emission spectra of the phosphopyridoxyl-antithrombin derivative that does not bind to heparin-agarose indicated fluorescence energy transfer from tryptophan to the bound phosphopyridoxyl moiety. These results indicate that 1-2 lysines are essential to heparin bonding and that these residues may be located near to the critical tryptophan (Blackburn, M. N., and Sibley, C. C. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 824-826) in the heparin-binding domain of antithrombin III.

Antithrombin "Chicago": a functionally abnormal molecule with increased heparin affinity causing familial thrombophilia

A family with a high incidence of spontaneous thromboembolism over four generations has been investigated. The propositus is a 21-yr-old male with a history of thrombophlebitis. Medical histories of 46 family members were obtained. Twelve of these individuals have experienced deep venous thromboses and/or pulmonary emboli. Seven members of the kindred, with a prior history of thrombotic phenomena, were investigated in detail. These subjects were found to have normal plasma concentrations of immunoreactive antithrombin (mean 96%), decreased plasma levels of progressive antithrombin activity (mean 50%), and greatly reduced amounts of plasma heparin cofactor activity (mean 42%). The abnormal antithrombin (“Chicago”) was found to elute from heparin- Sepharose at a higher ionic strength than normal inhibitor. The functionally defective antithrombin molecules exhibit a reduced ability to neutralize thrombin in the presence or absence of heparin (approximately 10%-20% of normal). The molecular defect of this protease inhibitor thus appears to be distinct from those of previously described abnormal antithrombins.

Antithrombin “Chicago”: A Functionally Abnormal Molecule With Increased Heparin Affinity Causing Familial Thrombophilia

A family with a high incidence of spontaneous thromboembolism over four generations has been investigated. The propositus is a 21-yr-old male with a history of thrombophlebitis. Medical histories of 46 family members were obtained. Twelve of these individuals have experienced deep venous thromboses and/or pulmonary emboli. Seven members of the kindred, with a prior history of thrombotic phenomena, were investigated in detail. These subjects were found to have normal plasma concentrations of immunoreactive antithrombin (mean 96%), decreased plasma levels of progressive antithrombin activity (mean 50%), and greatly reduced amounts of plasma heparin cofactor activity (mean 42%). The abnormal antithrombin ("Chicago") was found to elute from heparin-Sepharose at a higher ionic strength than normal inhibitor. The functionally defective antithrombin molecules exhibit a reduced ability to neutralize thrombin in the presence or absence of heparin (approximately 10%-20% of normal). The molecular defect of this protease inhibitor thus appears to be distinct from those of previously described abnormal antithrombins.

A disulfide bond in antithrombin is required for heparin-accelerated thrombin inactivation.

Heparin accelerates the rate of reaction of antithrombin with thrombin, an effect which is abolished by mild reduction of the antithrombin with dithiothreitol. Reduced antithrombin incorporates 1.7 mol of [14C]acetamide/mol of protein, with cysteine as the only amino acid modified. Tryptic digestion of the reduced and alkylated antithrombin results in the formation of only two labeled peptides. In the absence of heparin, the second order rate constant for the reaction of thrombin with both reduced and native antithrombin is 5.9 to 9.6 x 10(5) M-1 min-1. In the presence of heparin, the rate constant for the reaction between reduced antithrombin and thrombin is 8.3 to 12.2 x 10(5) M-1 min-1, while the rate of reaction between native antithrombin and thrombin is too fast to follow under the conditions used. Reduced antithrombin elutes from a heparin-Sepharose column at 0.5 M NaCl, contrast to 10 M NaCl required for elution of the native protein. The intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence enhancement caused by heparin binding to native antithrombin is not observed with reduced antithrombin. These data indicate that cleavage of one of the three antithrombin disulfide bonds results in reduced affinity for heparin and the loss of heparin-accelerated antithrombin activity and imply that heparin and thrombin bind at different sites on the antithrombin molecule.

The heparin binding site of antithrombin III. Evidence for a critical tryptophan residue.

Chemical modification of antithrombin III, the major plasma protease inhibitor, with the tryptophan reagent dimethy(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl) sulfonium bromide, results in the incorporation of one hydroxynitrobenzyl moiety per molecule of antithrombin III. The derivatized inhibitor does not exhibit the heparin-promoted enhancement in rate of thrombin inactivation which is characteristic of the native molecule. However, the rates of thrombin inactivation in the absence of heparin are identical with native and derivatized inhibitors, indicating that the site of protease . inhibitor complex formation is not altered. Unlike native antithrombin III, the modified inhibitor does not bind to a heparin-agarose affinity column. When the modification reaction was performed with added heparin, the extent of modification was decreased and the heparin-promoted enhancement of thrombin inactivation was preserved. These results indicate that the integrity of a specific tryptophan residue is critical to the binding of heparin to antithrombin III.

The aggregation of basic polypeptide residues bound to heparin.

The molecular basis for heparin interactions with proteins has been explored with L-lysine copolymer : heparin complexes, measuring the conformational change and charge neutralization which accompany the complexation, using optical methods. Previous studies had shown that the basic homopolypeptides (poly-L-lysine, poly-L-arginine) assume alpha-helical conformation upon interaction with numerous glycosaminoglycans (including heparin). Thus, the unique specificity for heparin in the anticoagulation system (which involves two or more lysine residues on the antithrombin molecule) is not paralleled by the findings with the basic homopolymers. Results with mixed polypeptides, poly(lysine : tyrosine, 1 : 1) and poly(lysine : phenylalanine, 1.4 : 1), show that these protein models assume different conformational forms upon complexation with heparin, the former shows a poly-L-lysine-like beta-structure circular dichroism spectrum and the latter an alpha-helical structure. The change in circular dichroism spectra increases with the addition of heparin until the ratio of positive to negative charge is about one. Dye-binding studies of the two copolymer systems reveal that the charged groups of both reactants are largely blocked in the polypeptide complexes at a calculated charge ratio equal to one. The data indicate that heparin interaction with the cationic polypeptides causes them to assume either the alpha-helical or beta-structure depending upon the nature of the neighboring uncharged amino acid and its proclivity for alpha-helix or beta-structure.