Thrombin-mediated proteolysis of factor V resulting in gradual B-domain release and exposure of the factor Xa-binding site

To investigate the relationship between the individual thrombin cleavages in factor V (FV) and the generation of activated factor X (FXa) cofactor activity, recombinant FV mutants having the cleavage sites eliminated separately or in combination were used. After thrombin incubation, the ability of the FV variants to bind FXa and support prothrombin activation was tested. The interaction between FVa and FXa on the surface of phospholipid was investigated with a direct binding assay as well as in a functional prothrombin activation assay. FV mutated at all cleavage sites functioned poorly as FXa cofactor in prothrombin activation, the apparent K(d) for FXa being approximately 10 nm. Fully activated wild type FVa, yielded an apparent K(d) of around 0.2 nm. The Arg(709) and Arg(1018) cleavages occurred at low thrombin concentrations and decreased the K(d) for FXa binding 5- and 3-fold, respectively. The Arg(1545) cleavage, being less sensitive to thrombin, decreased the K(d) for FXa binding approximately 20-fold. The K(m) for prothrombin was the same for all FV variants, demonstrating B-domain dissociation to result in exposure of binding site for FXa but not for prothrombin. In conclusion, we demonstrate FV activation to be associated with the stepwise release of the B-domain, which results in a gradual exposure of the FXa-binding site.     

Notecarin D binds human factor V and factor Va with high affinity in the absence of membranes

Notecarin D (NotD) is a prothrombin (ProT) activator in the venom of the tiger snake, Notechis scutatus, and a factor Xa (FXa) homolog. NotD binds specifically to the FXa binding site expressed on factor V (FV) upon activation to factor Va (FVa) by thrombin. NotD active site-labeled with 5-fluorescein ([5F]FFR-NotD) binds FV and FVa with remarkably high affinity in the absence of phospholipids (K(D) 12 and ≤ 0.01 nm, respectively). In the presence of membranes, the affinity of [5F]FFR-NotD for FVa is similar, but increased ～55-fold for FV. Binding of FXa active site-labeled with Oregon Green to FV and FVa in the presence of phospholipids is ～5,000- and ～80-fold weaker than [5F]FFR-NotD, respectively. NotD reports FVa and not FV binding by a 3-fold increase in tripeptide substrate hydrolysis, demonstrating allosteric regulation by FVa. The NotD·FVa·membrane complex activates ProT with K(m)((app)) similar to prothrombinase, and ～85-fold weaker without membranes. Active site-blocked NotD exhibits potent anticoagulant activity in plasma thrombin generation assays, representing inhibition of productive prothrombinase assembly and possible disruption of FXa inhibition by the tissue factor pathway inhibitor. The results show that high affinity binding of NotD to FVa is membrane-independent, unlike the strict membrane dependence of FXa for high affinity FVa binding.     

Interdomain engineered disulfide bond permitting elucidation of mechanisms of inactivation of coagulation factor Va by activated protein C

Procoagulant factor Va (FVa) is inactivated via limited proteolysis at three Arg residues in the A2 domain by the anticoagulant serine protease, activated protein C (APC). Cleavage by APC at Arg306 in FVa causes dissociation of the A2 domain from the heterotrimeric A1:A2:A3 structure and complete loss of procoagulant activity. To help distinguish inactivation mechanisms involving A2 domain dissociation from inactivation mechanisms involving unfavorable changes in factor Xa (FXa) affinity, we used our FVa homology model to engineer recombinant FVa mutants containing an interdomain disulfide bond (Cys609-Cys1691) between the A2 and A3 domains (A2-SS-A3 mutants) in addition to cleavage site mutations, Arg506Gln and Arg679Gln. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the disulfide bond in A2-SS-A3 mutants prevented dissociation of the A2 domain. In the absence of A2 domain dissociation from the A1:A2:A3 trimer, APC cleavage at Arg306 alone caused a sevenfold decrease in affinity for FXa, whereas APC cleavages at Arg306, Arg506, and Arg679 caused a 70-fold decrease in affinity for FXa and a 10-fold decrease in the k(cat) of the prothrombinase complex for prothrombin without any effect on the apparent K(m) for prothrombin. Therefore, for FVa inactivation by APC, dissociation of the A2 domain may provide only a modest final step, whereas the critical events are the cleavages at Arg506 and Arg306, which effectively inactivate FVa before A2 dissociation can take place. Nonetheless, for FVa Leiden (Gln506-FVa) inactivation by APC, A2 domain dissociation may become mechanistically important, depending on the ambient FXa concentration.     

Effects of prothrombin on the individual activated protein C-mediated cleavages of coagulation factor Va

The factor Va (FVa) inactivation by activated protein C (APC), mediated by cleavages at Arg306 and Arg506 in FVa, is inhibited by both factor Xa (FXa) and prothrombin. Although FXa is known to specifically inhibit the Arg506 cleavage, the effect of prothrombin has not been confined to one cleavage site. We used recombinant FV variants, FV:R506Q/R679Q and FV:R306Q/R679Q, to investigate the effect of prothrombin on the individual cleavage sites. The APC-mediated FVa inhibition was monitored by a prothrombinase-based FVa assay, and apparent first order rate constants were calculated for each of the cleavage sites both in the presence and absence of prothrombin. Prothrombin impaired cleavages at both Arg306 and Arg506 and the inhibition correlated with a delayed appearance of proteolytic products on Western blots. Almost complete inhibition was obtained at around 3 microm prothrombin, whereas half-maximal inhibition was obtained at 0.7 microm prothrombin. After cleavage of prothrombin by thrombin, the inhibitory activity was lost. The inhibitory effect of prothrombin on APC-mediated inhibition of FVa was seen both in the presence and absence of protein S, but in particular for the Arg306 sites, it was more pronounced in the presence of protein S. Thus, prothrombin inhibition of APC inactivation of FVa appears to be due to both impaired APC function and decreased APC cofactor function of protein S. In conclusion, FVa, being part of the prothrombinase complex, is protected from APC by both FXa and prothrombin. Release of products of prothrombin activation from the prothrombinase complex would alleviate the protection, allowing APC-mediated inactivation of FVa.     

Importance of individual activated protein C cleavage site regions in coagulation factor V for factor Va inactivation and for factor Xa activation.

Activated protein C (APC) cleavage of Factor Va (FVa) at residues R506 and R306 correlates with its inactivation. APC resistance and increased thrombotic risk are due to the mutation R506Q in Factor V (FV). To study the effects of individual cleavages in FVa by APC and the importance of regions near the cleavage sites, the following recombinant (r) human FVs were prepared and purified: wild-type, Q306-rFV, Q506-rFV, and Q306Q506-rFV. All had similar time courses for thrombin activation. Q506-rFVa was cleaved by APC at R306 and was moderately resistant to APC in plasma-clotting assays and in prothrombinase assays measuring FVa residual activity, in agreement with studies of purified plasma-derived Q506-FVa. Q306-rFVa was cleaved by APC at R506 and gave a low APC-resistance ratio similar to Q506-rFVa in clotting assays, whereas unactivated Q306-rFV gave a near-normal APC-resistance ratio. When FVa residual activity was measured after long exposure to APC, Q306-rFVa was inactivated by only < or = 40% under conditions where Q506-rFVa was inactivated > 90%, supporting the hypothesis that efficient inactivation of normal FVa by APC requires cleavage at R306. In addition, the heavy chain of Q306-rFVa was cleaved at R506 much more rapidly than activity was lost, suggesting that FVa cleaved at only R506 is partially active. Under the same conditions, Q306Q506-rFVa lost no activity and was not cleaved by APC. Therefore, cleavage at either R506 or R306 appears essential for significant inactivation of FVa by APC. Modest loss of activity, probably due to cleavage at R679, was observed for the single site rFVa mutants, as evidenced by a second phase of inactivation. Q306Q506-rFVa had a low activity-to-antigen ratio of 0.50-0.77, possibly due to abnormal Factor Xa (FXa) binding. Furthermore, Q306Q506-rFV was very resistant to cleavage and activation by FXa. Q306Q506-rFV appeared to bind FXa and inhibit FXa's ability to activate normal FV. Thus, APC may downregulate FV/Va partly by impairing FXa-binding sites upon cleavage at R306 and R506. This study shows that R306 is the most important cleavage site for normal efficient inactivation of FVa by APC and supports other studies suggesting that regions near R306 and R506 provide FXa-binding sites and that FVa cleaved at only R506 retains partial activity.     

Effects of factor Xa and protein S on the individual activated protein C-mediated cleavages of coagulation factor Va

Activated protein C inhibits the procoagulant function of activated factor V (FVa) through proteolytic cleavages at Arg-306, Arg-506, and Arg-679. The cleavage at Arg-506 is kinetically favored but protected by factor Xa (FXa). Protein S has been suggested to annihilate the inhibitory effect of FXa, a proposal that has been challenged. To elucidate the effects of FXa and protein S on the individual cleavage sites of FVa, we used recombinant FVa:Q306/Q679 and FVa:Q506/Q679 variants, which can only be cleaved at Arg-506 and Arg-306, respectively. In the presence of active site blocked FXa (FXa-1.5-dansyl-Glu-Gly-Arg), the FVa inactivation was followed over time, and apparent second order rate constants were calculated. Consistent with results on record, we observed that FXa-1.5-dansyl-Glu-Gly-Arg decreased the Arg-506 cleavage by 20-fold, with a half-maximum inhibition of approximately 2 nM. Interestingly and in contrast to the inhibitory effect of FXa on the 506 cleavage, FXa stimulated the Arg-306 cleavage. Protein S counteracted the inhibition by FXa of the Arg-506 cleavage, whereas protein S and FXa yielded additive stimulatory effect of the cleavage at Arg-306. This suggests that FXa and protein S interact with distinct sites on FVa, which is consistent with the observed lack of inhibitory effect on FXa binding to FVa by protein S. We propose that the apparent annihilation of the FXa protection of the Arg-506 cleavage by protein S is due to an enhanced rate of Arg-506 cleavage of FVa not bound to FXa, resulting in depletion of free FVa and dissociation of FXa-FVa complexes.     

Partial glycosylation of Asn2181 in human factor V as a cause of molecular and functional heterogeneity. Modulation of glycosylation efficiency by mutagenesis of the consensus sequence for N-linked glycosylation.

Coagulation factor V (FV) circulates in two forms, FV1 and FV2, having slightly different molecular masses and phospholipid-binding properties. The aim was to determine whether this heterogeneity is due to the degree of glycosylation of Asn(2181). FVa1 and FVa2 were isolated and digested with endoglycosidase PNGase F. As judged by Western blotting, the FVa2 light chain contained two N-linked carbohydrates, whereas FVa1 contained three. Wild-type FV and three mutants, Asn(2181)Gln, Ser(2183)Thr, and Ser(2183)Ala, were expressed in COS1 cells, activated by thrombin, and analyzed by Western blotting. Wild-type FVa contained the 71 kDa-74 kDa doublet, whereas the Asn(2181)Gln and Ser(2183)Ala mutants contained only the 71 kDa light chain. In contrast, the Ser(2183)Thr mutant gave a 74 kDa light chain. This demonstrated that the third position in the Asn-X-Ser/Thr consensus affects glycosylation efficiency, Thr being associated with a higher degree of glycosylation than Ser. The Ser(2183)Thr mutant FVa was functionally indistinguishable from plasma-purified FVa1, whereas Asn(2181)Gln and Ser(2183)Ala mutants behaved like FVa2. Thus, the carbohydrate at Asn(2181) impaired the interaction between FVa and the phospholipid membrane, an interpretation consistent with a structural analysis of a three-dimensional model of the C2 domain and the position of a proposed phospholipid-binding site. In conclusion, we show that the FV1-FV2 heterogeneity is caused by differential glycosylation of Asn(2181) related to the presence of a Ser rather than a Thr at the third position in the consensus sequence of glycosylation.     

Defining the factor Xa-binding site on factor Va by site-directed glycosylation

Activated Factor V (FVa) functions as a membrane-bound cofactor to the enzyme Factor Xa (FXa) in the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, increasing the catalytic efficiency of FXa by several orders of magnitude. To map regions on FVa that are important for binding of FXa, site-directed mutagenesis resulting in novel potential glycosylation sites on FV was used as strategy. The consensus sequence for N-linked glycosylation was introduced at sites, which according to a computer model of the A domains of FVa, were located at the surface of FV. In total, thirteen different regions on the FVa surface were probed, including sites that are homologous to FIXa-binding sites on FVIIIa. The interaction between the FVa variants and FXa and prothrombin were studied in a functional prothrombin activation assay, as well as in a direct binding assay between FVa and FXa. In both assays, the four mutants carrying a carbohydrate side chain at positions 467, 511, 652, or 1683 displayed attenuated FXa binding, whereas the prothrombin affinity was unaffected. The affinity toward FXa could be restored when the mutants were expressed in the presence of tunicamycin to inhibit glycosylation, indicating the lost FXa affinity to be caused by the added carbohydrates. The results suggested regions surrounding residues 467, 511, 652, and 1683 in FVa to be important for FXa binding. This indicates that the enzyme:cofactor assembly of the prothrombinase and the tenase complexes are homologous and provide a useful platform for further investigation of specific structural elements involved in the FVa.FXa complex assembly.     

Restoring the Procofactor State of Factor Va-like Variants by Complementation with B-domain Peptides

Coagulation factor V (FV) circulates as an inactive procofactor and is activated to FVa by proteolytic removal of a large inhibitory B-domain. Conserved basic and acidic sequences within the B-domain appear to play an important role in keeping FV as an inactive procofactor. Here, we utilized recombinant B-domain fragments to elucidate the mechanism of this FV autoinhibition. We show that a fragment encoding the basic region (BR) of the B-domain binds with high affinity to cofactor-like FV(a) variants that harbor an intact acidic region. Furthermore, the BR inhibits procoagulant function of the variants, thereby restoring the procofactor state. The BR competes with FXa for binding to FV(a), and limited proteolysis of the B-domain, specifically at Arg¹⁵⁴⁵, ablates BR binding to promote high affinity association between FVa and FXa. These results provide new insight into the mechanism by which the B-domain stabilizes FV as an inactive procofactor and reveal how limited proteolysis of FV progressively destabilizes key regulatory regions of the B-domain to produce an active form of the molecule.     

Characterization of a factor Xa binding site on factor Va near the Arg-506 activated protein C cleavage site

Prothrombin is proteolytically activated by the prothrombinase complex comprising the serine protease Factor (F) Xa complexed with its cofactor, FVa. Based on inhibition of the prothrombinase complex by synthetic peptides, FVa residues 493-506 were proposed as a FXa binding site. FVa is homologous to FVIIIa, the cofactor for the FIXa protease, in the FX-activating complex, and FVIIIa residues 555-561 (homologous to FVa residues 499-506) are recognized as a FIXa binding sequence. To test the hypothesis that FVa residues 499-505 contribute to FXa binding, we created the FVa loop swap mutant (designated 499-505(VIII) FV) with residues 499-505 replaced by residues 555-561 of FVIIIa, which differ at five of seven positions. Based on kinetic measurements and spectroscopic titrations, this FVa loop swap mutant had significantly reduced affinity for FXa. The fully formed prothrombinase complex containing this FVa mutant had fairly normal kinetic parameters (k(cat) and K(m)) for cleavage of prothrombin at Arg-320. However, small changes in both Arg-320 and Arg-271 cleavage rates result together in a moderate change in the pathway of prothrombin activation. Although residues 499-505 directly precede the Arg-506 cleavage site for activated protein C (APC), the 499-505(VIII) FVa mutant was inactivated entirely normally by APC. These results suggest that this A2 domain sequence of the FVa and FVIIIa cofactors evolved to have different specificity for binding FXa and FIXa while retaining compatibility as substrate for APC. In an updated three-dimensional model for the FVa structure, residues 499-505, along with Arg-506, Arg-306, and other previously suggested FXa binding sequences, delineate a continuous surface on the A2 domain that is strongly implicated as an extended FXa binding surface in the prothrombinase complex.     

A bipartite autoinhibitory region within the B-domain suppresses function in factor V

Activation of blood coagulation factor V (FV) is a key reaction of hemostasis. FV circulates in plasma as an inactive procofactor, and proteolytic removal of a large central B-domain converts it to an active cofactor (FVa) for factor Xa (FXa). Here we show that two short evolutionary conserved segments of the B-domain, together termed the procofactor regulatory region, serve an essential autoinhibitory function. This newly identified motif consists of a basic (963-1008) and an acidic (1493-1537) region and defines the minimal sequence requirements to maintain FV as a procofactor. Our data suggest that dismantling this autoinhibitory region via deletion or proteolysis is the driving force to unveil a high affinity binding site(s) for FXa. These findings document an unexpected sequence-specific role for the B-domain by negatively regulating FV function and preventing activity of the procofactor. These new mechanistic insights point to new ways in which the FV procofactor to cofactor transition could be modulated to alter hemostasis.     

Role of Hirudin-like factor Va heavy chain sequences in prothrombinase function

Proexosite I on prothrombin has been implicated in providing a recognition site for factor Va within prothrombinase. To examine whether hirudin-like sequences (659-698) on the cofactor contribute to this interaction, we expressed and purified two-chain FVa derivatives that were intracellularly truncated at the C terminus of the heavy chain: FVa709 (des710-1545), FVa699 (des700-1545), FVa(692 (des693-1545), FVa678 (des679-1545), and FVa658 (des659-1545). We found that FVa709, FVa699, FVa692, and FVa678 exhibited specific clotting activities that were comparable with plasma-derived and recombinant FVa. Additionally, kinetic studies using prothrombin revealed that the Km and kcat values for these derivatives were unaltered. Fluorescent measurements and chromatography studies indicated that FVa709, FVa699, FVa692, and FVa678 bound to FXa membranes and thrombin-agarose in a manner that was comparable with the wild-type cofactors. In contrast, FVa658 had an approximately 1% clotting activity and reduced affinity for FXa membranes (approximately 20-fold) and did not bind to thrombin-agarose. Surprisingly, however, FVa(658) exhibited essentially normal kinetic parameters for prothrombin when the variant was fully saturated with FXa membranes. Overall our results are consistent with the interpretation that any possible binding interactions between prothrombin and the C-terminal region of the FVa heavy chain do not contribute in a detectable way to the enhanced function of prothrombinase.     

Role of the alpha-helix 163-170 in factor Xa catalytic activity

Factor Xa (FXa) is a key protease of the coagulation pathway whose activity is known to be in part modulated by binding to factor Va (FVa) and sodium ions. Previous investigations have established that solvent-exposed, charged residues of the FXa alpha-helix 163-170 (h163-170), Arg(165) and Lys(169), participate in its binding to FVa. In the present study we aimed to investigate the role of the other residues of h163-170 in the catalytic functions of the enzyme. FX derivatives were constructed in which point mutations were made or parts of h163-170 were substituted with the corresponding region of either FVIIa or FIXa. Purified FXa derivatives were compared with wild-type FXa. Kinetic studies in the absence of FVa revealed that, compared with wild-type FXa, key functional parameters (catalytic activity toward prothrombin and tripeptidyl substrates and non-enzymatic interaction of a probe with the S1 site) were diminished by mutations in the NH(2)-terminal portion of h163-170. The defective amidolytic activity of these FXa derivatives appears to result from their impaired interaction with Na(+) because using a higher Na(+) concentration partially restored normal catalytic parameters. Furthermore, kinetic measurements with tripeptidyl substrates or prothrombin indicated that assembly of these FXa derivatives with an excess of FVa in the prothrombinase complex improves their low catalytic efficiency. These data indicate that residues in the NH(2)-terminal portion of the FVa-binding h163-170 are energetically linked to the S1 site and Na(+)-binding site of the protease and that residues Val(163) and Ser(167) play a key role in this interaction.     

Peptide analogs from E-cadherin with different calcium-binding affinities.

Cadherins are a family of calcium-dependent cell-surface proteins that are fundamental in controlling the development and maintenance of tissues. Motif B of E-cadherin seems to be a crucial calcium-binding site as single point mutations (D134A and D134K) completely inactivate its adhesion activity. We analyzed peptide models corresponding to motif B (amino acids 128-144) as well as selected mutations of this motif. Our NMR studies showed that this motif B sequence is actually an active calcium-binding region, even in the absence of the rest of the cadherin molecule. We found that the binding affinity of this motif is very sensitive to mutations. For example, our peptide P128-144 with the native calcium-binding sequence has an affinity of Kd 0.4 mM, whereas the mutants P128-144/ D134A and P128-144/D134K containing the replacement of Asp134 by Ala and Lys, have Kd values of only 1.5 and 11 mM, respectively. Removing Asp at position 134, which correlates with the loss of adhesion activity, decreases calcium-binding affinity 20-fold. Ala132, along with residues Asp134, Asp136 and Asn143, is involved in calcium binding in solution. We also demonstrated that the calcium-binding affinity can be increased 3-fold when an additional Asp is introduced at position 132. In 50% organic solvent, this binding affinity of peptide P128-144/A132D (17-mer) from E-cadherin is similar to that of peptide P72-100/C73-77-91A (29-mer) from alpha-lactalbumin.     

Structural investigation of the A domains of human blood coagulation factor V by molecular modeling.

Factor V (FV) is a large (2,196 amino acids) nonenzymatic cofactor in the coagulation cascade with a domain organization (A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2) similar to the one of factor VIII (FVIII). FV is activated to factor Va (FVa) by thrombin, which cleaves away the B domain leaving a heterodimeric structure composed of a heavy chain (A1-A2) and a light chain (A3-C1-C2). Activated protein C (APC), together with its cofactor protein S (PS), inhibits the coagulation cascade via limited proteolysis of FVa and FVIIIa (APC cleaves FVa at residues R306, R506, and R679). The A domains of FV and FVIII share important sequence identity with the plasma copper-binding protein ceruloplasmin (CP). The X-ray structure of CP and theoretical models for FVIII have been recently reported. This information allowed us to build a theoretical model (994 residues) for the A domains of human FV/FVa (residues 1-656 and 1546-1883). Structural analysis of the FV model indicates that: (a) the three A domains are arranged in a triangular fashion as in the case of CP and the organization of these domains should remain essentially the same before and after activation; (b) a Type II copper ion is located at the A1-A3 interface; (c) residues R306 and R506 (cleavage sites for APC) are both solvent exposed; (d) residues 1667-1765 within the A3 domain, expected to interact with the membrane, are essentially buried; (e) APC does not bind to FVa residues 1865-1874. Several other features of factor V/Va, like the R506Q and A221V mutations; factor Xa (FXa) and human neutrophil elastase (HNE) cleavages; protein S, prothrombin and FXa binding, are also investigated.     

Deamidation of asparagine residues in a recombinant serine hydroxymethyltransferase

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase purified from rabbit liver cytosol has at least two Asn residues (Asn(5) and Asn(220)) that are 67 and 30% deamidated, respectively. Asn(5) is deamidated equally to Asp and isoAsp, while Asn(220) is deamidated only to isoAsp. To determine the effect of these Asn deamidations on enzyme activity and stability a recombinant rabbit liver cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase was expressed in Escherichia coli over a 5-h period. About 90% of the recombinant enzyme could be isolated with the two Asn residues in a nondeamidated form. Compared with the enzyme isolated from liver the recombinant enzyme had a 35% increase in catalytic activity but exhibited no significant changes in either affinity for substrates or stability. Introduction of Asp residues for either Asn(5) or Asn(220) did not significantly alter activity or stability of the mutant forms. In vitro incubation of the recombinant enzyme at 37 degrees C and pH 7.3 resulted in the rapid deamidation of Asn(5) to both Asp and isoAsp with a t(1/2) of 50-70 h, which is comparable to the rate found with small flexible peptides containing the same sequence. The t(1/2) for deamidation of Asn(220) was at least 200 h. This residue may become deamidated only after some unfolding of the enzyme. The rates for deamidation of Asn(5) and Asn(220) are consistent with the structural environment of the two Asn residues in the native enzyme. There are also at least two additional deamidation events that occur during prolonged incubation of the recombinant enzyme.     

Binding sites for blood coagulation factor Xa and protein S involving residues 493-506 in factor Va.

Inactivation due to cleavage of Factor Va (FVa) at Arg 506 by activated protein C (APC) helps to downregulate blood coagulation. To identify potential functional roles of amino acids near Arg 506, synthetic overlapping pentadecapeptides comprising FVa heavy chain residues 481-525 were tested for their ability to inhibit prothrombin activation by prothrombinase complexes [Factor Xa (FXa):FVa:phospholipids:Ca2+]. The most potent inhibition was observed for peptide VP493 (residues 493-506), with 50% inhibition at 2.5 microM. VP493 also inhibited FXa in plasma in FXa-1-stage clotting assays by 50% at 3 microM. When the C-terminal carboxamide group of VP493 was replaced by a carboxyl group, most prothrombinase inhibitory activity was lost. VP493 preincubated with FXa inhibited prothrombinase with a pattern of mixed inhibition. Homologous peptides from Factor VIII sequences did not inhibit prothrombinase. Affinity-purified antibodies to VP493 inhibited prothrombinase activity and prolonged FXa-1-stage clotting times. VP493 also blocked the ability of protein S to inhibit prothrombinase independently of APC. Immobilized VP493 bound specifically with similar affinity to both FXa and protein S (Kd approximately 40 nM), but did not measurably bind prothrombin or APC. These studies suggest that FVa residues 493-506 contribute to binding sites for both FXa and protein S, providing a rationale for the ability of protein S to negate the protective effect of FXa toward APC cleavage of FVa. Possible loss of this FVa binding site for FXa due to cleavage at Arg 506 by APC may help explain why this cleavage causes 40% decrease in FVa activity and facilitates inactivation of FVa.     

Deuterium solvent isotope effect and proton-inventory studies of factor Xa-catalyzed reactions

Kinetic solvent isotope effects (KSIEs) for the factor Xa (FXa)-catalyzed activation of prothrombin in the presence and absence of factor Va (FVa) and 5.0 x 10(-5) M phospholipid vesicles are slightly inverse, 0.82-0.93, when substrate concentrations are at 0.2 Km. This is consistent with the rate-determining association of the enzyme-prothrombin assembly, rather than the rate-limiting chemical transformation. FVa is known to effect a major conformational change to expose the first scissile bond in prothrombin, which is the likely event triggering a major solvent rearrangement. At prothrombin concentrations > 5 Km, the KSIE is 1.6 +/- 0.3, when FXa is in a 1:1 ratio with FVa but becomes increasingly inverse, 0.30 +/- 0.05 and 0.19 +/- 0.04, when FXa/FVa is 1:4, with an increasing FXa and substrate concentration. The rate-determining step changes with the conditions, but the chemical step is not limiting under any circumstance. This corroborates the proposed predominance of the meizothrombin pathway when FXa is well-saturated with the prothrombin complex. In contrast, the FXa-catalyzed hydrolysis of N-alpha-Z-D-Arg-Gly-Arg-pNA.2HCl (S-2765) and H-D-Ile-L-Pro-L-Arg-pNA.HCl (S-2288) is most consistent with two-proton bridges forming at the transition state between Ser195 OgammaH and His57 N(epsilon)2 and His57 Ndelta1 and Asp102 COObeta- at the active site, with transition-state fractionation factors of phi1 = phi2 = 0.57 +/- 0.07 and phiS = 0.78 +/- 0.16 for solvent rearrangement for S-2765 and phi1 = phi2 = 0.674 +/- 0.001 for S-2288 under enzyme saturation with the substrate at pH 8.40 and 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. The rate-determining step(s) in these reactions is most likely the cleavage of the C-N bond and departure of the leaving group.     

Carbohydrate moieties on the procofactor factor V, but not the derived cofactor factor Va, regulate its inactivation by activated protein C

Factor V (FV) is a single-chain plasma protein containing 13-25% carbohydrate by mass. Studies were done to determine if these carbohydrate moieties altered the activated protein C (APC)-catalyzed cleavage and inactivation of both FV and the cofactor which results from its activation by alpha-thrombin, factor Va(IIa) (FVa(IIa)). Treatment of purified FV with N-glycanase and neuraminidase under nonprotein-denaturing conditions removed approximately 20-30% of the carbohydrate from the heavy chain region of the molecule. When glycosidase-treated FV was analyzed in an aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time)-based APC sensitivity assay, the APC sensitivity ratio (APC-SR) increased from 2.34 to 3.33. In contrast, when glycosidase-treated FV was activated with alpha-thrombin, the addition of the resulting FVa(IIa) to the plasma-based APC sensitivity assay produced no substantial increase in the APC-SR. Additional functional analyses of the APC-catalyzed inactivation of FVa(IIa) in an assay consisting of purified components indicated that both glycosidase-treated and untreated FVa(IIa) expressed identical cofactor activities and were inactivated at identical rates. Analyses of the APC-catalyzed cleavage of glycosidase-treated FV at Arg(306), the initial cleavage site, revealed a 10-fold rate increase when compared to untreated FV. In contrast, and consistent with functional assays, similar analyses of FVa(IIa), derived from those FV species, revealed near-identical rates of APC-catalyzed cleavage at both the Arg(506) and Arg(306)sites. These combined results indicate that N-linked carbohydrate moieties play a substantial role in the APC-catalyzed cleavage and inactivation of FV but not FVa(IIa) at position Arg(306) and that the Arg(306) cleavage sites of FV and FVa(IIa) are distinct substrates for APC.