fibrinopeptide-a and glycyl-prolyl-arginyl-proline

The fibrinogen γ-module has several important sites relating to fibrinogen function, which include the high affinity calcium binding site, hole 'a' that binds with knob 'A', and the D:D interface. Residue γAla341, which is located in the vicinity of these sites, is altered in three variant fibrinogens: fibrinogen Seoul (γAla341Asp), Tolaga Bay (γAla341Val), and Lyon III (γAla341Thr). In order to investigate the impaired polymerisation of fibrinogens γAla341Asp and γAla341Val to understand the role of γAla341 in fibrin polymerisation and fibrinogen synthesis, we have expressed γAla341Asp and γAla341Val in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, purified these fibrinogens from the culture media and performed biochemical tests to elucidate their function. Expression in CHO cells was similar for these variants. For both variants the kinetics of thrombin-catalysed FpA release was not different from normal fibrinogen, while FpB release was slower than that of normal. Thrombin-catalysed polymerisation of both variants was dependent on the calcium concentration. At physiologic calcium (1 mM) the variants showed impaired polymerisation with a longer lag period and a slower Vmax than normal fibrinogen. Scanning electron micrographs showed the clots were less organised than normal, having thicker and more twisted fibers, and larger pores. Analysis by SDS-PAGE showed that factor XIIIa-catalysed γ and α chain cross-linking was delayed, and plasmin-catalysed lysis was not reduced by the presence of 5 mM calcium or 5 mM GPRP (Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro). Our data indicate that fibrinogen residue γAla341 is important for the proper conformation of the γ-module, maintaining calcium-binding site and 'A-a' interactions.

Topics: Alanine; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Aspartic Acid; Binding Sites; Blood Coagulation; Calcium; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Factor XIIIa; Fibrinogen; Fibrinogens, Abnormal; Fibrinolysin; Fibrinopeptide A; Fibrinopeptide B; Humans; Kinetics; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Models, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Oligopeptides; Protein Conformation; Protein Multimerization; Protein Subunits; Thrombin; Transfection; Valine

The formation of a fibrin clot is supported by multiple interactions, including those between polymerization knobs 'A' and 'B' exposed by thrombin cleavage and polymerization holes 'a' and 'b' present in fibrinogen and fibrin. Although structural studies have defined the 'A-a' and 'B-b' interactions in part, it has not been possible to measure the affinities of individual knob-hole interactions in the absence of the other interactions occurring in fibrin.. We designed experiments to determine the affinities of knob-hole interactions, either 'A-a' alone or 'A-a' and 'B-b' together.. We used surface plasmon resonance to measure binding between adsorbed fibrinogen and soluble fibrin fragments containing 'A' knobs, desA-NDSK, or both 'A' and 'B' knobs, desAB-NDSK.. The desA- and desAB-NDSK fragments bound to fibrinogen with statistically similar K(d)'s of 5.8 +/- 1.1 microm and 3.7 +/- 0.7 microm (P = 0.14), respectively. This binding was specific, as we saw no significant binding of NDSK, which has no exposed knobs. Moreover, the synthetic 'A' knob peptide GPRP and synthetic 'B' knob peptides GHRP and AHRPY, inhibited the binding of desA- and/or desAB-NDSK.. The peptide inhibition findings show both 'A-a' and 'B-b' interactions participate in desAB-NDSK binding to fibrinogen, indicating 'B-b' interactions can occur simultaneously with 'A-a'. Furthermore, 'A-a' interactions are much stronger than 'B-b' because the affinity of desA-NDSK was not markedly different from desAB-NDSK.

Topics: Adsorption; Batroxobin; Binding Sites; Binding, Competitive; Fibrinogen; Fibrinopeptide A; Fibrinopeptide B; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Models, Biological; Oligopeptides; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Surface Plasmon Resonance; Thrombin

Topics: Adsorption; Animals; Batroxobin; Binding Sites; Binding, Competitive; Factor XIIIa; Fibrinogen; Fibrinopeptide A; Fibrinopeptide B; Humans; Models, Biological; Oligopeptides; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Thrombin

Fibrin polymerization is mediated by interactions between knobs 'A' and 'B' exposed by thrombin cleavage, and holes 'a' and 'b' always present in fibrinogen. The role of A:a interactions is well established, but the roles of knob:hole interactions A:b, B:b or B:a remain ambiguous.. To determine whether A:b or B:b interactions have a role in thrombin-catalyzed polymerization, we examined a series of fibrinogen variants with substitutions altering holes 'a': gamma364Ala, gamma364His or gamma364Val.. We examined thrombin- and reptilase-catalyzed fibrinopeptide release by high-performance liquid chromatography, fibrin clot formation by turbidity, fibrin clot structure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and factor (F) XIIIa-catalyzed crosslinking by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.. Thrombin-catalyzed fibrinopeptide A release was normal, but fibrinopeptide B release was delayed for all variants. The variant fibrinogens all showed markedly impaired thrombin-catalyzed polymerization; polymerization of gamma364Val and gamma364His were more delayed than gamma364Ala. There was absolutely no polymerization of any variant with reptilase, which exposed only knobs 'A'. SEM showed that the variant clots formed after 24 h had uniform, ordered fibers that were thicker than normal. Polymerization of the variant fibrinogens was inhibited dose-dependently by the addition of either Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro (GPRP) or Gly-His-Arg-Pro (GHRP), peptides that specifically block holes 'a' and 'b', respectively. FXIIIa-catalyzed crosslinking between gamma-chains was markedly delayed for all the variants.. These results demonstrate that B:b interactions are critical for polymerization of variant fibrinogens with impaired holes 'a'. Based on these data, we propose a model wherein B:b interactions participate in protofibril formation.

Topics: Batroxobin; Binding Sites; Binding, Competitive; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Factor XIIIa; Fibrinogen; Fibrinopeptide A; Fibrinopeptide B; Kinetics; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Models, Biological; Mutation; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; Oligopeptides; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Thrombin

The tetrapeptide Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro inhibits fibrinogen aggregation, probably by binding to the same sites used during initiation of fibrin formation. The Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro binding sites have not yet been identified. However, their possible sequence and locations have been predicted on the basis of the amino acid pairing hypothesis. One of these predicted sites is on fibrinopeptide A. We report here that nuclear magnetic resonance studies indicate that Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro binds to fibrinopeptide A with a binding constant, K, of ca. 10(4) per mol. We also report results of 19 related peptide combinations used as controls.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Binding Sites; Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide; Fibrinogen; Fibrinopeptide A; Fibrinopeptide B; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Oligopeptides

Steady state kinetic parameters were evaluated for the hydrolytic release of fibrinopeptides A and B (FPA and FPB) from human fibrinogen by human thrombin at pH 7.4, 37 degrees C, and gamma/2 0.15. At low concentrations of fibrinogen (less than 0.4 microM), the release of FPA from A alpha-chains was first order with respect to both the concentration of fibrinogen A alpha-chains and thrombin. The second order rate constant yielded a value of 11.6 (+/- 0.3) X 10(6) M-1 S-1 for the specificity constant (kcat/Km) for this process. Values of 84 (+/- 4) S-1 and 7.2 (+/- 0.9) microM were evaluated for kcat and Km for the thrombin-catalyzed release of FPA from normal human fibrinogen. The amino acid replacement ArgA alpha 16 leads to His present in fibrinogen Petoskey was shown to result in a 160-fold decrease in the specificity constant for hydrolysis at A alpha 16 and concomitant release of FPA. A kinetic analysis for determination of the sequentiality of release of fibrinopeptides was presented. It indicated that at least 97% of FPB was released after FPA. The specificity constant for release of FPB from intact fibrinogen (if it occurs) was less than 3% of that for release of FPA and less than 10% of that for release of FPB from des-A fibrinogen. The specificity constant for the release of FPB from des-A fibrinogen was 4.2 (+/- 0.2) X 10(6) M-1 S-1. The polymerization inhibitors EDTA and Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro inhibited release of FPB but not FPA. These observations are consistent with the generally accepted view that the predominant pathway for the conversion of normal human fibrinogen to fibrin is one wherein FPA is released, des-A fibrinogen polymerizes, and then FPB is released.

Topics: Edetic Acid; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Fibrinopeptide A; Fibrinopeptide B; Humans; Kinetics; Mathematics; Oligopeptides; Thrombin

Topics: Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Fibrinopeptide A; Fibrinopeptide B; Humans; Oligopeptides; Peptides; Spectrophotometry; Thrombin