Activation of normal and abnormal human factor IX with trypsin

Human factor IX is activated to factor IXa beta when factor XIa cleaves two peptide bonds, Arg 145-Ala 146 and Arg 180-Val 181, to release an activation peptide. In factor IX Chapel Hill (IXCH), isolated from a hemophilia B patient with a mild bleeding disorder, the arginine 145 residue has been replaced with a histidine. Thus factor IXCH is activated by factor XIa by cleaving only at the Arg 180-Val 181 bond, leaving the activation peptide attached, and resulting in an activated species, factor IXa alpha CH, that, like normal factor IXa alpha, is only 20% as active as factor IXa beta. It is reported that both factor IX and factor IXCH could be activated by trypsin to forms of factor IXa beta and factor IXa beta CH that had clotting activities identical to factor XIa-activated factor IX. Amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis showed that trypsin cleaved factor IX at the same bonds as did factor XIa; factor IXCH was cleaved at the Arg 180-Val 181 bond, as normal, and was cleaved near the histidine 145, at the Lys 142-Leu 143 bond, releasing a slightly larger activation peptide than from normal factor IXa beta. Metal ions had no effect on the rate of activation of factor IX by trypsin; however, metal ions had a profound effect on the rate at which further incubation with trypsin inactivated factor IXa. Calcium and manganese protected factor IXa from inactivation by trypsin more effectively than magnesium, which was more effective than no metal ion. It is concluded that trypsin can activate normal factor IX and factor IXCH to fully active IXa beta forms.     

Blood clotting factor IX Kashihara: amino acid substitution of valine-182 by phenylalanine

Hemophilia B Kashihara is a severe hemorrhagic disorder in which the factor IX antigen is present in normal amounts but factor IX biological activity is markedly reduced. In addition, purified factor IX Kashihara is not activated by purified factor XIa in the presence of calcium ions. Amino acid sequence analysis of one of the tryptic peptides isolated from factor IX Kashihara indicated that Val-182 (equivalent to Val-17 in the chymotrypsin numbering system) had been replaced by Phe. No substitution was found in the members of the catalytic triad His-221, Asp-269, and Ser-365 of factor IX Kashihara. The Val-to-Phe replacement found in factor IX Kashihara appears to sterically hinder the cleavage of Arg 180-Val 181 by factor XIa required for the activation of this zymogen.     

Degradation of coagulation proteins by an enzyme from Malayan pit viper (Akistrodon rhodostoma) venom

Three hydrolases from the crude venom of the Malayan pit viper (Akistrodon rhodostoma) can be differentiated. The first, which we designate ARH alpha, is the well-known fibrinogenolytic enzyme ancrod. The second, ARH beta, which has not been described previously, is identified by its electrophoretic mobility after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), by its ability to hydrolyze H-D-phenylalanyl-L-piperyl-L-arginyl-rho-nitroanilide, and by inhibition of its activity by diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate. The third, ARH gamma, also previously not described, has been purified by using gel permeation and ion-exchange chromatography and preparative PAGE. Chemical, electrophoretic, and hydrodynamic data indicate that it is a single-chain, nonglobular glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 25,600. ARH gamma catalyzes the degradation of several plasma vitamin K dependent coagulation factors, including factor IX, factor X, prothrombin, and protein C. The products are electrophoretically similar to factor IXa beta, factor Xa, thrombin, and activated protein C, respectively. However, these products contain little or no enzymatic activity. ARH gamma-degraded factor IX, factor X, prothrombin, and protein C can be subsequently activated by factor XIa, Russell's viper venom X coagulant protein, crude taipan snake venom, and thrombin, respectively. The N-terminal sequence of the peptides resulting from the ARH gamma digest of porcine factor IX shows that at least three bonds are hydrolyzed: (1) at position 152, seven residues from the Arg145-Ala146 factor XIa cleavage site; (2) at position 167 within the factor IX activation peptide; and (3) at position 177, three residues from the Arg180-Val181 factor XIa cleavage site. The degradation of factor IX by ARH gamma is not affected by several serine protease inhibitors. ARH gamma catalyzes the degradation of both the heavy and light chains of porcine factor VIII which results in the inability of thrombin to activate factor VIII. ARH gamma also catalyzes the degradation of porcine antithrombin III which abolishes its ability to inhibit thrombin. These findings may have relevance to studies of hemostatic derangements following envenomation by this snake. Additionally, several novel coagulation factor derivatives have been generated for structure-function studies.     

The insect salivary protein, prolixin-S, inhibits factor IXa generation and Xase complex formation in the blood coagulation pathway

Prolixin-S is a salivary anticoagulant of the blood-sucking insect, Rhodnius prolixus, and known as an inhibitor of the intrinsic Xase. We report here its inhibitory mechanisms with additional important anticoagulation activities. We found prolixin-S specifically bound to factor IX/IXa in the presence of Ca(2+) ions. Light scattering and surface plasmon resonance studies showed that prolixin-S interfered with factor IX/IXa binding to the phospholipid membrane, indicating that prolixin-S inhibit Xase activity of factor IXa by interference with its Xase complex formation. Furthermore, reconstitution experiments showed that prolixin-S binding to factor IX strongly inhibited factor IXa generation by factor XIa. We also found that prolixin-S inhibited factor IXa generation by factor VIIa-tissue factor complex and factor IXalpha generation by factor Xa. These results suggest that prolixin-S inhibits both intrinsic and extrinsic coagulations by sequential inhibition of all coagulation pathways in which factor IX participates. It was also suggested that prolixin-S may bind to factor IX/IXa by recognizing conformational change of the Gla domain induced by Ca(2+) binding.     

Blood clotting factor IX BM Nagoya. Substitution of arginine 180 by tryptophan and its activation by alpha-chymotrypsin and rat mast cell chymase

Factor IX BM Nagoya (IX Nagoya) is a natural mutant of factor IX responsible for severe hemophilia B. A patient with this mutant is characterized by a markedly prolonged ox brain prothrombin time. IX Nagoya was purified from the patient's plasma by immunoaffinity chromatography with an anti-factor IX monoclonal antibody column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that treatment of IX Nagoya with factor XIa/Ca2+ resulted in cleavage only at the Arg145-Ala146 bond. Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography of a trypsin digest of IX Nagoya showed an aberrant peptide, which was further digested with proteinase Asp-N. Primary structure analysis of one of the Asp-N peptides revealed that Arg180 is replaced by Trp. An essentially complete (99%) amino acid sequence of IX Nagoya was obtained by sequencing fragments derived from a lysyl endopeptidase digest in which no other substitutions in the catalytic triad or substrate binding site were found. We also found that IX Nagoya is activated by alpha-chymotrypsin or rat mast cell chymase by monitoring the rate of factor X activation using a fluorogenic peptide substrate in the presence of factor VIII, phospholipids, and Ca2+. These results indicate that the substitution of Arg180 by Trp impairs the cleavage by factor XIa required for activation of this zymogen and that the substitution causes hemophilia BM.     

Replacement of isoleucine-397 by threonine in the clotting proteinase factor IXa (Los Angeles and Long Beach variants) affects macromolecular catalysis but not L-tosylarginine methyl ester hydrolysis. Lack of correlation between the ox brain prothrombin time and the mutation site in the variant proteins.

Previously, from the plasma of unrelated haemophilia-B patients, we isolated two non-functional Factor IX variants, namely Los Angeles (IXLA) and Long Beach (IXLB). Both variants could be cleaved to yield Factor IXa-like molecules, but were defective in catalysing the cleavage of Factor X (macromolecular substrate) and in binding to antithrombin III (macromolecular inhibitor). In the present study we have identified the mutation of IXLA by amplifying the exons (including flanking regions) as well as the 5' end of the gene by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) method and sequencing the amplified DNA by the dideoxy chain-termination method. Comparison of the normal IX and IXLA sequences revealed only one base substitution (T----C) in exon VIII of IXLA, with a predicted replacement of Ile-397 to Thr in the mature protein. This mutation is the same as found recently for IXLB. The observation that IXLB and IXLA have the same mutation is an unexpected finding, since, on the basis of their ox brain prothrombin time (PT, a test that measures the ability of the variant Factor IX molecules to inhibit the activation of Factor X by Factor VIIa-tissue factor complex), these variants have been classified into two different groups and were thought to be genetically different. Our observation thus suggests that the ox brain PT does not reflect the locus of mutation in the coding region of the variant molecules. However, our analysis suggests that the ox brain PT is related to Factor IX antigen concentration in the patient's plasma. Importantly, although the mutation in IXLA or IXLB protein is in the catalytic domain, purified IXaLA and IXaLB hydrolyse L-tosylarginine methyl ester at rates very similar to that of normal IXa. These data, in conjunction with our recent data on Factor IXBm Lake Elsinore (Ala-390----Val mutant), strengthen a conclusion that the peptide region containing residues 390-397 of normal Factor IXa plays an essential role in macromolecular substrate catalysis and inhibitor binding. However, the two mutations noted thus far in this region do not distort S1 binding site in the Factor IXa enzyme.     

Characterization of Novel Forms of Coagulation Factor XIa: independence of factor XIa subunits in factor IX activation

Factor XI is the zymogen of a dimeric plasma protease, factor XIa, with two active sites. In solution, and during contact activation in plasma, conversion of factor XI to factor XIa proceeds through an intermediate with one active site (1/2-FXIa). Factor XIa and 1/2-FXIa activate the substrate factor IX, with similar kinetic parameters in purified and plasma systems. During hemostasis, factor IX is activated by factors XIa or VIIa, by cleavage of the peptide bonds after Arg145 and Arg180. Factor VIIa cleaves these bonds sequentially, with accumulation of factor IX alpha, an intermediate cleaved after Arg145. Factor XIa also cleaves factor IX preferentially after Arg145, but little intermediate is detected. It has been postulated that the two factor XIa active sites cleave both factor IX peptide bonds prior to releasing factor IX abeta. To test this, we examined cleavage of factor IX by four single active site factor XIa proteases. Little intermediate formation was detected with 1/2-FXIa, factor XIa with one inhibited active site, or a recombinant factor XIa monomer. However, factor IX alpha accumulated during activation by the factor XIa catalytic domain, demonstrating the importance of the factor XIa heavy chain. Fluorescence titration of active site-labeled factor XIa revealed a binding stoichiometry of 1.9 +/- 0.4 mol of factor IX/mol of factor XIa (Kd = 70 +/- 40 nm). The results indicate that two forms of activated factor XI are generated during coagulation, and that each half of a factor XIa dimer behaves as an independent enzyme with respect to factor IX.     

Detailed characterization of an anti-factor IX monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the prolonged ox brain prothrombin time of hemophilia B(M) by synthetic peptides

In a previous study, we prepared a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to coagulation factor IX (FIX), designated 65-10, which interfered with the activation of FIX by the activated factor XI/Ca(2+) and neutralized the prolonged ox brain prothrombin time of hemophilia B(M) [11,12]. The location of the epitope on the FIX for 65-10 MoAb is (168) Ile-Thr-Gln-Ser-Thr-Gln-Ser-Phe-Asn-Asp-Phe-Thr-Arg-Val-Val(182) [21]. In this paper, we studied in more detail an epitope on FIX using the systematic substitution of different amino acids at each residue of the epitope peptides and the influence of the epitope peptide on the prolonged ox brain prothrombin time of the hemophilia B(M) plasma of 65-10 MoAb. In the replacement set of amino acids, peptides showing low or no reactivity to 65-10 were (175)Phe --> Asp, Glu, Gly, Lys, Arg, Thr, Val, (176)Asn --> Asp, Glu, Phe, Ile, Lys, Leu, Pro, Val, Tyr, (177)Asp --> Cys, Glu, Phe, Ile, Lys, Leu, Met, Pro, Gln, Arg, Ser, Thr, Val, Trp, Tyr, and (178) Phe --> Pro. These results imply that a hydrophobic molecule of (175) Phe, a hydrophilic molecule of (176)Asn, and a negative charge molecule of (177)Asp were important to the epitope. The 65-10 MoAb antibody neutralized the prolonged ox brain prothrombin time of hemophilia B(M) Nagoya 2 ((180)Arg -->Trp) and Kashihara ((181)Val --> Phe) as well as B(M) Kiryu ((313)Val --> Asp) and Niigata ((390)Ala --> Val). This reaction was inhibited by preincubation with a (168) Ile-Thr-Gln-Ser-Thr-Gln-Ser-Phe-Asn-Asp-Phe-Thr-Arg-Val-Val(182) peptide conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA). 65-10 MoAb that has been useful in detailing epitopes will be useful for qualitative analysis of hemophilia B(M).     

Hydrophobic contact between the two epidermal growth factor-like domains of blood coagulation factor IX contributes to enzymatic activity

The three-dimensional structure of activated factor IX comprises multiple contacts between the two epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains. One of these is a salt bridge between Glu(78) and Arg(94), which is essential for binding of factor IXa to its cofactor factor VIII and for factor VIII-dependent factor X activation (Christophe, O. D., Lenting, P. J., Kolkman, J. A., Brownlee, G. G., and Mertens, K. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 222-227). We now addressed the putative hydrophobic contact at the interface between the EGF-like domains. Recombinant factor IX chimeras were constructed in which hydrophobic regions Phe(75)-Phe(77) and Lys(106)-Val(108) were replaced by the corresponding sites of factor X and factor VII. Activated factor IX/factor X chimeras were indistinguishable from normal factor IXa with respect to factor IXa enzymatic activity. In contrast, factor IXa(75-77)/factor VII displayed approximately 2-fold increased factor X activation in the presence of factor VIII, suggesting that residues 75-77 contribute to cofactor-dependent factor X activation. Activation of factor X by factor IX(106-108)/factor VII was strongly decreased, both in the absence and presence of factor VIII. Activity could be restored by simultaneous substitution of the hydrophobic sites in both EGF-like domains for factor VII residues. These data suggest that factor IXa enzymatic activity requires hydrophobic contact between the two EGF-like domains.     

Characterization of the functional defect in factor IX Alabama. Evidence for a conformational change due to high affinity calcium binding in the first epidermal growth factor domain

Factor IX Alabama is a factor IX variant in which a glycine has been substituted for Asp47 in the first epidermal growth factor (EGF) domain. The structural defect in factor IX Alabama results in a molecule with 10% of normal coagulant activity. The interactions of immunoaffinity-purified factor IX Alabama with its activator, cofactors, and substrate have been investigated to determine the functional defect in the variant. Factor IX Alabama is activated by factor XIa/calcium at near normal rates. Calcium fluorescence-quenching experiments indicate that high affinity calcium binding in the first EGF domain is not altered in factor IX Alabama. The active site of factor IXa Alabama is fully competent to activate factor X in the absence of calcium when using polylysine as a surface to catalyze the reaction. Factor IXa Alabama has only 64% of normal factor IXa activity in the presence of 300 microM CaCl2 in the polylysine-catalyzed system although apparent high affinity calcium binding constants are similar. Factor IXa Alabama has 52-60% of normal activity in a calcium/phospholipid vesicle system. The addition of factor VIIIa to the phospholipid vesicle system decreases the relative rate of factor IXa Alabama to 18-19% of normal. Three-dimensional computer-aided models of the first EGF domain of normal factor IX and factor IX Alabama indicate no major structural alterations resulting from the glycine substitution for Asp47. The model of the first EGF domain of normal factor IX predicts a calcium-binding site involving Asp47, Asp49, Asp64, and Asp65. Our binding data, however, indicate that Asp47 is not necessary to form the high affinity binding site. We conclude that Asp47 in normal factor IX coordinates to the bound calcium, inducing a conformational change in the molecule essential for proper interaction with factor X and factor VIIIa.     

Substrate-dependent modulation of the mechanism of factor XIa inhibition

Factor XIa is a serine protease which participates in both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of blood coagulation. In this work we used active site directed inhibitors to study the mechanism of factor IX activation by factor XIa. To this end, we developed a new sensitive method for the detection of factor IXa based on its affinity to antithrombin III. Using this assay, we found that the peptidic inhibitors, leupeptin and aprotinin, exhibited similar potencies in inhibiting factor IX activation and the cleavage of a tripeptidic chromogenic substrate by factor XIa. As expected, leupeptin and aprotinin were competitive with respect to the tripeptidic chromogenic substrate. However, the inhibition of factor IX activation was best described by mixed-type inhibition with the affinity of leupeptin and aprotinin to the factor XIa-factor IX complex only approximately 10-fold lower than their affinity toward factor XIa. These results, consistent with previous factor XI domain analyses, suggest that the active site of factor XIa does not contribute significantly to the affinity of factor XIa toward factor IX. The competitive component of the inhibition of factor IX activation suggests that binding of factor IX to factor XIa heavy chain affects the interactions of leupeptin and aprotinin with the active site.     

Reactivity of bovine blood coagulation factor IXa beta, factor Xa beta, and factor XIa toward fluorogenic peptides containing the activation site sequences of bovine factor IX and factor X

The published activation site sequences of bovine factors IX and X have been utilized to synthesize a number of peptides specifically designed respectively as substrates for bovine factors XIa and IXa beta. The substrates contain a fluorophore (2-aminobenzoyl group, Abz) and a quenching group (4-nitrobenzylamide, Nba) that are separated upon enzymatic hydrolysis with a resultant increase in fluorescence that was utilized to measure hydrolysis rates. Factor XIa cleaved all of the peptides bearing factor IX activation site sequences with Abz-Glu-Phe-Ser-Arg-Val-Val-Gly-Nba having the highest kcat/KM value. The kinetic behavior of factor XIa toward the synthetic peptide substrate indicates that it has a minimal extended substrate recognition site at least five residues long spanning S4 to S1' and has favorable interactions over seven subsites. The hexapeptide Abz-Glu-Phe-Ser-Arg-Val-Val-Nba was the most specific factor XIa substrate and was not hydrolyzed by factors IXa beta or Xa beta or thrombin. Factor IXa beta failed to hydrolyze any of the synthetic peptides bearing the activation site sequence of factor X. This enzyme slowly cleaved four hexa- and heptapeptide substrates with factor IX activation site sequences extending from P4 or P3 to P3'. Factor Xa beta poorly hydrolyzed all but one of the factor XIa substrates and failed to cleave any of the factor IXa beta substrates. Thrombin failed to hydrolyze any of the peptides examined while trypsin, as expected, was highly reactive and not very specific. Phospholipids had no effect on the reactivity of either factors IXa beta or Xa beta toward synthetic substrates. Both factor IXa beta and Xa beta cleaved the peptide substrates at similar rates to their natural substrates under comparable conditions. However the rates were substantially lower than optimum activation rates observed in the presence of Ca2+, phospholipids, and protein cofactors. In the future, it may be useful to investigate synthetic substrates that can bind to phospholipid vesicles in the same manner as the natural substrates for factors IXa beta and Xa beta.     

Surface loop 199-204 in blood coagulation factor IX is a cofactor-dependent site involved in macromolecular substrate interaction.

In factor IX residues 199-204 encompass one of six surface loops bordering its substrate-binding groove. To investigate the contribution of this loop to human factor IX function, a series of chimeric factor IX variants was constructed, in which residues 199-204 were replaced by the corresponding sequence of factor VII, factor X, or prothrombin. The immunopurified and activated chimeras were indistinguishable from normal factor IXa in hydrolyzing a small synthetic substrate, indicating that this region is not involved in the interaction with substrate residues on the N-terminal side of the scissile bond. In contrast, replacement of loop 199-204 resulted in a 5-25-fold reduction in reactivity toward the macromolecular substrate factor X. This reduction was due to a combination of increased K(m) and reduced k(cat). In the presence of factor VIIIa the impaired reactivity toward factor X was largely restored for all factor IXa variants, resulting in a more pronounced stimulation by factor VIIIa compared with normal factor IXa (3 to 5 x 10(4)-fold versus 5 x 10(3)-fold). Inhibition by antithrombin was only slightly affected for the factor IXa variant with the prothrombin loop sequence, whereas factor IXa variants containing the analogous residues of factor VII or factor X were virtually insensitive to antithrombin inhibition. In the presence of heparin, however, all chimeric factor IXa variants formed complexes with antithrombin. Thus the cofactors heparin and factor VIIIa have in common that they both alleviate the deleterious effects of mutations in the factor IX loop 199-204. Collectively, our data demonstrate that loop 199-204 plays an important role in the interaction of factor IXa with macromolecular substrates.     

Zymogenic and enzymatic properties of the 70-80 loop mutants of factor X/Xa

The Ca(2+) binding 70-80 loop of factor X (fX) contains one basic (Arg(71)) and three acidic (Glu(74), Glu(76), and Glu(77)) residues whose contributions to the zymogenic and enzymatic properties of the protein have not been evaluated. We prepared four Ala substitution mutants of fX (R71A, E74A, E76A, and E77A) and characterized their activation kinetics by the factor VIIa and factor IXa in both the absence and presence of cofactors. Factor VIIa exhibited normal activity toward E74A and E76A and less than a twofold impaired activity toward R71A and E77A in both the absence and presence of tissue factor. Similarly, factor IXa in the absence of factor VIIIa exhibited normal activity toward both E74A and E76A; however, its activity toward R71A and E77A was impaired approximately two- to threefold. In the presence of factor VIIIa, factor IX activated all mutants with approximately two- to fivefold impaired catalytic efficiency. In contrast to changes in their zymogenic properties, all mutant enzymes exhibited normal affinities for factor Va, and catalyzed the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin with normal catalytic efficiencies. However, further studies revealed that the affinity of mutant enzymes for interaction with metal ions Na(+) and Ca(2+) was impaired. These results suggest that although charged residues of the 70-80 loop play an insignificant role in fX recognition by the factor VIIa-tissue factor complex, they are critical for the substrate recognition by factor IXa in the intrinsic Xase complex. The results further suggest that mutant residues do not play a specific role in the catalytic function of fXa in the prothrombinase complex.     

Factor IX Amagasaki: a new mutation in the catalytic domain resulting in the loss of both coagulant and esterase activities

Factor IX Amagasaki (AMG) is a naturally occurring mutant of factor IX having essentially no coagulant activity, even though normal levels of antigen are detected in plasma. Factor IX AMG was purified from the patient's plasma by immunoaffinity chromatography with an anti-factor IX monoclonal antibody column. Factor IX AMG was cleaved normally by factor VIIa-tissue factor complex, yielding a two-chain factor IXa. Amino acid composition and sequence analysis of one of the tryptic peptides isolated from factor IX AMG revealed that Gly-311 had been replaced by Glu. We identified a one-base substitution of guanine to adenine in exon VIII by amplifying exon VIII using the polymerase chain reaction method and sequencing the product. This base mutation also supported the replacement of Gly-311 by Glu. In the purified system, factor IXa AMG did not activate factor X in the presence of factor VIII, phospholipids, and Ca2+, and no esterase activity toward Z-Arg-p-nitrobenzyl ester was observed. The model building of the serine protease domain of factor IXa suggests that the Gly-311----Glu exchange would disrupt the specific conformational state in the active site environment, resulting in the substrate binding site not forming properly. This is the first report to show the experimental evidence for importance of a highly conserved Gly-142 (chymotrypsinogen numbering) located in the catalytic site of mammalian serine proteases so far known.     

A monoclonal antibody to factor IX that inhibits the factor VIII:Ca potentiation of factor X activation

A murine monoclonal antibody (IgG1k, Kd approximately 10(-8) M) specific for an epitope located on the heavy chain of human factor IXa was used to study structure-function relationships of factor IX. The antibody inhibited factor IX clotting activity but did not impair activation of factor IX either by factor XIa/calcium or by factor VIIa/tissue factor/calcium. The antibody also did not impair the binding of factor IXa to antithrombin III. Moreover, the antibody did not prevent calcium and phospholipid (PL) from inhibiting the binding of factor IXa to antithrombin III. The antibody also failed to impair activation of factor VII by factor IXa/calcium/PL. Furthermore, the antibody did not interfere with the very slow activation of factor X by factor IXa/calcium/PL. In contrast, the antibody did interfere with factor X activation when reaction mixtures also contained factor VIII:Ca/von Willebrand factor. The marked acceleration of factor X activation observed in control mixtures was not observed in mixtures containing the antibody. Similar results were obtained in reaction mixtures containing the Fab portion of the antibody and factor VIII:Ca free of von Willebrand factor. In additional experiments, factor VIII:Ca/von Willebrand factor was found to inhibit the binding of the antibody to 125I-factor IXa as determined using an immunosorbent assay. Moreover, the antibody displaced factor VIII:Ca from the factor X activator complex (IXa/calcium/PL/VIII:Ca) as evidenced by an altered elution pattern on gel filtration chromatography. From these observations, we conclude that the antibody impairs the clotting activity of factor IXa through interference with its binding of factor VIII:Ca. This suggests a significant role for the heavy chain (residues of 181-415) of factor IXa in binding factor VIII:Ca.     

A moderate form of hemophilia B is caused by a novel mutation in the protease domain of factor IXVancouver

A genomic phage library was constructed using lymphocyte DNA from a patient with cross-reacting material-positive, moderately severe hemophilia B. The library was screened by using a full-length factor IX cDNA as a hybridization probe. DNA sequence analysis of the factor IX exons and intron/exon junctions revealed a single point mutation at nucleotide 31,311 of the gene. This mutation occurs in the protease domain of factor IXa and changes the codon for isoleucine 397 (ATA) to a threonine codon (ACA). The resulting abnormal protein has been named factor IXVancouver. Factor IXVancouver was isolated from the patient's plasma by barium citrate adsorption, affinity chromatography on a Ca2+-dependent antibody bound to agarose, and anion-exchange chromatography. On gel electrophoresis, the purified protein exhibited a normal molecular weight and a normal pattern of activation cleavages with bovine factor XIa. Kinetic studies on the purified protein indicated that the Km of factor IXaVancouver for human factor X was 3.4 times higher than that of normal factor IXa. The kcat of factor IXaVancouver was 12.5% of the kcat of normal factor IXa. Structural models of the protease domain of human factor IXa and of factor IXaVancouver were constructed, based on the homology of factor IXa with related serine proteases of known structure. The factor IXaVancouver model suggests that hydrogen bonding between the side chain hydroxyl group of threonine 397 and the carbonyl oxygen of tryptophan 385 reduces the ability of factor IXaVancouver to bind factor X in a configuration favoring catalysis.     

Blood clotting factor IX Niigata: substitution of alanine-390 by valine in the catalytic domain

Factor IX Niigata is a mutant factor IX responsible for the moderately severe hemophilia B in a patient who has a normal level of factor IX antigen with reduced clotting activity (1-4% of normal). We reported previously that the purified mutant protein could be converted to the factor IXa beta form by factor XIa/Ca2+ at a rate similar to that in the case of normal factor IX, but the resulting mutant factor IXa beta could not activate factor X in the presence of factor VIII, Ca2+, and phospholipids (Yoshioka, A. et al. (1986) Thromb. Res. 42, 595-604). In the present study, we analyzed factor IX Niigata at the structural level to elucidate the molecular abnormality responsible for the loss of clotting activity. Amino acid sequence analysis of a peptide obtained on lysyl endopeptidase digestion, coupled with subsequent SP-V8 digestion, demonstrated that the alanine at position 390 was substituted by valine in the catalytic domain of the factor IX Niigata molecule.     

Exosite-mediated substrate recognition of factor IX by factor XIa. The factor XIa heavy chain is required for initial recognition of factor IX

Studies of the mechanisms of blood coagulation zymogen activation demonstrate that exosites (sites on the activating complex distinct from the protease active site) play key roles in macromolecular substrate recognition. We investigated the importance of exosite interactions in recognition of factor IX by the protease factor XIa. Factor XIa cleavage of the tripeptide substrate S2366 was inhibited by the active site inhibitors p-aminobenzamidine (Ki 28 +/- 2 microM) and aprotinin (Ki 1.13 +/- 0.07 microM) in a classical competitive manner, indicating that substrate and inhibitor binding to the active site was mutually exclusive. In contrast, inhibition of factor XIa cleavage of S2366 by factor IX (Ki 224 +/- 32 nM) was characterized by hyperbolic mixed-type inhibition, indicating that factor IX binds to free and S2366-bound factor XIa at exosites. Consistent with this premise, inhibition of factor XIa activation of factor IX by aprotinin (Ki 0.89 +/- 0.52 microM) was non-competitive, whereas inhibition by active site-inhibited factor IXa beta was competitive (Ki 0.33 +/- 0.05 microM). S2366 cleavage by isolated factor XIa catalytic domain was competitively inhibited by p-aminobenzamidine (Ki 38 +/- 14 microM) but was not inhibited by factor IX, consistent with loss of factor IX-binding exosites on the non-catalytic factor XI heavy chain. The results support a model in which factor IX binds initially to exosites on the factor XIa heavy chain, followed by interaction at the active site with subsequent bond cleavage, and support a growing body of evidence that exosite interactions are critical determinants of substrate affinity and specificity in blood coagulation reactions.     

Intrinsic versus extrinsic coagulation. Kinetic considerations.

A study to compare the kinetics of activation of factor IX by Factor XIa/Ca2+ and by Factor VIIa/tissue factor/Ca2+ has been undertaken. When purified human proteins, detergent-extracted brain tissue factor and tritiated-activation-peptide-release assays were utilized, the kinetic constants obtained were: Km = 310 nM, kcat. = 25 min-1 for Factor XIa and Km = 210 nM, kcat. = 15 min-1 for Factor VIIa. The kinetic constants for the activation of Factor X by Factor VIIa/brain tissue factor were: Km = 205 nM, kcat. = 70 min-1. Predicted rates for the generation of Factor IXa and Factor Xa were obtained when human monocytic tumour U937 cells (source of tissue factor) and Factor VIIa were used to form the activator. In other experiments, inclusion of high-Mr kininogen did not increase the activation rates of Factor IX by Factor XIa in the presence or absence of platelets and/or denuded rabbit aorta. These kinetic data strongly indicate that both Factor XIa and Factor VIIa play physiologically significant roles in the activation of Factor IX.