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Previous studies have indicated that the Ca(2+)-dependent protease, calpain, is activated in platelets within 30-60 s of thrombin stimulation, but specific roles of calpain in platelets remain to be identified. To directly test the functions of calpain during platelet activation, a novel strategy was developed for introducing calpain's specific biological inhibitor, calpastatin, into platelets prior to activation. This method involves treatment of platelets with a fusion peptide, calpastat, consisting of the cell-penetrating signal sequence from Kaposi's fibroblast growth factor connected to a calpain-inhibiting consensus sequence derived from calpastatin. Calpastat specifically inhibits thrombin peptide (SFLLR)-induced alpha-granule secretion (IC(50) = 20 microM) during the first 30 s of activation, thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (IC(50) = 50 microM), and platelet spreading on glass surfaces (IC(50) = 34 microM). Calpastat-Ala, a mutant peptide in which alanine is substituted at conserved calpastatin residues, lacks calpain inhibitory activity and fails to inhibit secretion, aggregation, or spreading. The peptidyl calpain inhibitors calpeptin, MDL 28,170 (MDL) and E64d also inhibit secretion, aggregation and spreading, but require 3-10-fold higher concentrations than calpastat for biological activity. Together, these findings demonstrate that calpain regulates platelet secretion, aggregation, and spreading and indicate that calpain plays an earlier role in platelet activation following thrombin receptor stimulation than had been previously detected.

The incorporation of factor Xa into the prothrombinase complex, factor Xa-factor Va-phospholipid-Ca(II), results in an approximately 10(5)-fold higher rate of substrate activation than that of the enzyme alone. To examine the role of the prothrombin kringle domains in the interaction with prothrombinase we have employed site-directed mutagenesis to produce prothrombin species that lack either the first kringle domain, PT/delta K1, or the second kringle domain, PT/delta K2. Previously, we have shown that these proteins are fully carboxylated and that they bind to phospholipid vesicles. In this investigation we demonstrate that cleavage at Arg271-Thr272 and Arg320-Ile321 peptide bonds occurs upon activation with prothrombinase to yield normal thrombin from both PT/delta K1 and PT/delta K2. In the absence of factor Va, the Km(app) for the activation of PT/delta K1, PT/delta K2, or plasma-derived prothrombin by factor Xa-phospholipid-Ca(II) are equivalent. The Km(app) for the activation of PT/delta K2 by prothrombinase is approximately 4-5-fold higher than that obtained for plasma-derived prothrombin or PT/delta K1. These data demonstrate that the prothrombin kringle domains do not contribute significantly to the binding affinity of the substrate-enzyme interaction. In the absence of factor Va, equivalent kcat values were obtained for all of the prothrombin species when they were activated by factor Xa-Ca(II)-phospholipid. In contrast, a 7-fold lower kcat value was obtained for the activation of PT/delta K2 by prothrombinase as compared with that obtained for plasma prothrombin or PT/delta K1. Collectively, these data suggest that determinants within the second prothrombin kringle domain interact with factor Va to elicit a significant acceleration in the catalytic rate of substrate turnover. Indeed, in contrast to plasma-derived prothrombin, no direct binding of PT/delta K2 to factor Va to form the PT/delta K2-factor Va complex could be demonstrated by 90 degrees light scattering.

To understand the molecular basis of granule release from platelets, we examined the role of vesicle-associated membrane protein, SNAP-23, and syntaxin 4 in alpha-granule secretion. A vesicle-associated membrane protein, SNAP-23, and syntaxin 4 were detected in platelet lysate. These proteins form a SDS-resistant complex that disassembles upon platelet activation. To determine whether these proteins are involved in alpha-granule secretion, we developed a streptolysin O-permeabilized platelet model of alpha-granule secretion. Streptolysin O-permeabilized platelets released alpha-granules, as measured by surface expression of P-selectin, in response to Ca2+ up to 120 min after permeabilization. Incubation of streptolysin O-permeabilized platelets with an antibody directed against vesicle-associated membrane protein completely inhibited Ca2+-induced alpha-granule release. Tetanus toxin cleaved platelet vesicle-associated membrane protein and inhibited Ca2+-induced alpha-granule secretion from streptolysin O-permeabilized platelets. An antibody to syntaxin 4 also inhibited Ca2+-induced alpha-granule release by approximately 75% in this system. These results show that vesicle-associated membrane protein, SNAP-23, and syntaxin 4 form a heterotrimeric complex in platelets that disassembles with activation and demonstrate that alpha-granule release is dependent on vesicle SNAP receptor-target SNAP receptor (vSNARE-tSNARE) interactions.

Factor IX is a vitamin K-dependent blood clotting zymogen that is functionally defective or absent in patients with hemophilia B. A method of immunoaffinity chromatography has been developed for a one-step high yield purification of factor IX directly from plasma. The technique utilizes conformation-specific antibodies that bind solely to the metal-stabilized factor IX conformer, but not to the conformer of factor IX found in the absence of metal ions. Anti-factor IX-Ca(II) antibodies were immobilized on an agarose matrix. Human plasma in the presence of 7.5 mM MgCl2 was applied to the antibody-agarose column. The factor IX that binds to these antibodies was specifically eluted by metal chelation with EDTA. This immunopurification resulted in a 10,000-fold one-step purification of the fully functional zymogen. Purified factor IX yielded a single band upon gel electrophoresis in Na-DodSO4 and had a specific activity of 120-150 units/mg. The purified factor IX was separated from other vitamin K-dependent blood clotting proteins and hepatitis virus; no activated factor IX was detected. This method has application for the large scale purification of factor IX for the treatment of hemophilia B.

A mutant factor IX, designated factor IXCambridge, was isolated from a patient with hemophilia B. This protein includes an 18-residue propeptide attached to the NH2 terminus of factor IX. A point mutation at residue -1, from an arginine to a serine, precludes cleavage of the propeptide by a processing protease and interferes with gamma-carboxylation of the factor IX, indicating the importance of the leader sequence in substrate recognition by the vitamin K-dependent carboxylase. This represents an example of an enzyme defect due to the presence of a point mutation in a precursor protein (preproenzyme) that is the cause of a human hereditary disease. This defect will serve as a prototype for understanding the molecular basis of some forms of hemophilia and other hereditary enzyme deficiencies.

Computer-generated molecular models of the trypsin-like domains of blood coagulation factor IXa, Factor Xa, and thrombin have been prepared. These hypothetical models are based upon the sequence homology of the blood coagulation enzymes with the pancreatic serine proteases and the known three-dimensional structure of the pancreatic serine proteases. The internal structures and active sites of these enzymes are highly conserved. The high degree of substrate specificity which characterizes the blood coagulation enzymes appears to be defined not entirely by the active site, but by the unique molecular surface surrounding the active site of each enzyme. Several regions which demonstrate high sequence variability among these enzymes likely participate in forming the putative extended substrate binding sites.

The vitamin K-dependent blood-clotting proteins contain a gamma-carboxylation recognition site in the propeptide, between the signal peptide and the mature protein, that directs gamma-carboxylation of specific glutamic acid residues. To develop a better substrate for the in vitro assay of the vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylase and to understand the substrate recognition requirements of the carboxylase, we prepared synthetic peptides based upon the structure of human proprothrombin. These peptides were employed as substrates for in vitro carboxylation using a partially purified form of the bovine liver carboxylase. A 28-residue peptide (HVFLAPQQARSLLQRVRRANTFLEEVRK), based on residues -18 to +10 in proprothrombin, includes the complete propeptide and the first 10 residues of acarboxyprothrombin. Carboxylation of this peptide is characterized by a Km of 3.6 microM. In contrast, FLEEL is carboxylated with a Km of about 2200 microM. A 10-residue peptide (ANTFLEEVRK), based on residues +1 to +10 in prothrombin, and a 20-residue peptide (ARSLLQRVRRANTFLEEVRK), based on residues -10 to +10 in proprothrombin, are also poor substrates for the carboxylase. Replacement of phenylalanine with alanine at residue 3 (equivalent to position -16 in proprothrombin) in the 28-residue peptide significantly alters the Km to 200 microM. A synthetic propeptide (HVFLAPQQARSLLQRVRRY), homologous to residues -18 to -1 in proprothrombin, inhibited carboxylation of the 28-residue peptide substrate with a Ki of 3.5 microM, but modestly stimulated the carboxylation of the 5- and 10-residue peptide substrates. These results indicate that an intact carboxylation recognition site is required for efficient in vitro carboxylation and that this site includes critical residues in region -18 to -11 of proprothrombin. The carboxylation recognition site in the propeptide binds directly to the carboxylase or to a closely associated protein.

A monoclonal antibody JO1 X 1 was prepared against human abnormal prothrombin using the hybridoma technique. The clone secreting this antibody was selected on the basis of the ability of this antibody to bind to abnormal prothrombin, but not to prothrombin, in the presence of calcium ions. The antibodies were purified by affinity chromatography in EDTA on columns of prothrombin-Sepharose. Bound antibodies were eluted with 15 mM CaCl2. The kinetics of dissociation of antibody from the antibody-prothrombin complex with the addition of calcium ions fit a first-order kinetic model. Increasing CaCl2 concentration increased the rate of antibody-prothrombin dissociation. Ca(II) and Mn(II) inhibited antibody-prothrombin interaction; half-maximal binding was observed at 0.9 and 4 mM, respectively. Mg(II) had little effect on antibody-antigen interaction. The JO1 X 1 antibody bound fragment 1, fragment (1-39), abnormal prothrombin, and prothrombin equivalently in the presence of EDTA, but did not bind to des(1-44)prothrombin in the presence of EDTA or prothrombin in the presence of CaCl2. These results indicate that the monoclonal antibody JO1 X 1 is conformation specific for the calcium-free conformer of prothrombin and directed against an antigenic determinant near the NH2 terminus of prothrombin expressed in the 1-39 region of the protein. This analysis provides confirmation of the presence of a metal-free conformer of prothrombin.

The role of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid in prothrombin has been examined using partially carboxylated variant prothrombins isolated from a person with a hereditary defect in vitamin K-dependent carboxylation. These species differ in gamma-carboxyglutamic acid content, distribution, and function, as monitored by metal binding properties, conformational transitions, phospholipid binding, and calcium-dependent coagulant activity (Borowski, M., Furie, B. C., Goldsmith, G. H., and Furie, B. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 9258-9264). The distribution of gamma-carboxyglutamic acids in the variant prothrombin species was determined by specific tritium incorporation into gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues, thermal decarboxylation, and automated Edman degradation. gamma-Carboxyglutamic acid residues in the partially carboxylated prothrombins were identified by the assay of tritium in the resultant glutamic acid residues in the acarboxyprothrombins. The results indicate that variant prothrombins 1-3 are nearly homogeneous populations of partially carboxylated prothrombins. The ability of prothrombin to undergo a metal-induced conformational change and to bind to phospholipid vesicles correlated closely to the presence of a gamma-carboxyglutamic acid at residue 16. This residue is likely involved in the formation of a critical high affinity metal-binding site, possibly formed by Gla 16 and Gla 25 and/or Gla 26. A second high affinity metal-binding site, present in all of the variant prothrombin species, is defined, as an upper limit, by Gla 6, Gla 14, Gla 19, and Gla 20. This region is likely responsible for the interaction of certain of the conformation-specific antibodies to the metal-stabilized conformer of prothrombin.

To study the specific role of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) residues in prothrombin, we have isolated a series of partially carboxylated prothrombin variants from a patient with a hereditary defect in vitamin K-dependent carboxylation (Goldsmith, G. H., Pence, R. E., Ratnoff, O. D., Adelstein, D. A., and Furie, B. (1982) J. Clin. Invest. 69, 1253-1260). The three variant prothrombins, purified by DEAE-Sephacel, immunoaffinity chromatography, and preparative gel electrophoresis, were indistinguishable from prothrombin in molecular weight, amino acid composition, and NH2-terminal amino acid sequence, with the exception of Gla residues. Variant prothrombin 1, with 8 Gla residues, had 66% of the coagulant activity of prothrombin, one high affinity metal-binding site (Kd = 15 nM), and three lower affinity sites (Kd = 2.7 microM); prothrombin contained two high affinity (36 nM) and four lower affinity sites (Kd = 1 microM). Ca(II) induced a 23% decrease in the intrinsic fluorescence of variant prothrombin 1 fragment 1, compared to a 35% decrease in that of prothrombin fragment 1. The phospholipid binding activity of variant prothrombin 1 was 44% that of prothrombin. Variant prothrombin 2 and variant prothrombin 3, with 4 and 6 Gla residues, respectively, had about 5% of prothrombin coagulant activity and a single high affinity and two lower affinity metal-binding sites and exhibited no phospholipid binding activity. Variant prothrombin 3 fragment 1 and variant prothrombin 2 fragment 1 demonstrated 18 and 13% of Ca(II)-induced fluorescence quenching, respectively. Abnormal prothrombin, with 1 Gla residue, had 8% of prothrombin coagulant activity, a single lower affinity (1 microM) metal-binding site, and 13% Ca(II)-induced fluorescence quenching of the fragment 1 species and did not bind to phospholipid. These results indicate that Gla residues define the metal binding properties of prothrombin. Most, if not all, of the Gla residues are required for complete prothrombin function, and the prothrombin coagulant activity correlates to the phospholipid binding activity of the prothrombin species.

Human prothrombin cDNA has been expressed in mammalian cells to yield biologically active, fully gamma-carboxylated prothrombin. A 2.0-kilobase cDNA encoding full-length prothrombin was isolated from a human fetal liver library using a cDNA fragment recovered from a lambda gt11 human hepatoma expression library. Prothrombin cDNA was cloned into a mammalian expression vector and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells. Selection for expression of dihydrofolate reductase yielded cell lines secreting up to 0.55 microgram/ml of prothrombin. Recombinant prothrombin synthesized in the presence of vitamin K was quantitatively recovered from tissue culture medium by affinity chromatography using conformation-specific antibodies directed against the metal-stabilized, gamma-carboxylated conformer. The purified material migrated as a single band on denaturing polyacrylamide gels with an electrophoretic mobility equivalent to that of plasma-derived human prothrombin. Automated Edman degradation of recombinant prothrombin revealed a single amino-terminal sequence identical to that of plasma-derived prothrombin. Recombinant and plasma-derived prothrombin interacted similarly with antibodies specific for total prothrombin, abnormal des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin, and two metal-stabilized conformers of prothrombin. Recombinant prothrombin exhibited a specific coagulant activity equivalent to that of plasma-derived prothrombin. The gamma-carboxyglutamic acid analysis of recombinant prothrombin demonstrated 9.9 +/- 0.4 mol of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid/mol of prothrombin. These results represent the first description of the expression of a recombinant vitamin K-dependent protein in which all of the expressed protein is gamma-carboxylated.

Prothrombin Barcelona has been isolated from a patient with a normal prothrombin antigen level but low prothrombin coagulant activity. The activation of this protein is impaired by the absence of one of the two factor Xa-catalyzed cleavages that normally lead to the formation of thrombin. Prothrombin Barcelona and prothrombin were isolated from patient plasma and normal plasma, respectively, in a single-step, high-yield immunoaffinity purification using conformation-specific antibodies immobilized on Sepharose. After reduction and alkylation, the purified proteins were subjected to trypsin hydrolysis. The resulting peptides were separated by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Comparison of the peptide maps of prothrombin Barcelona and prothrombin demonstrated that a peptide, identified as fragment 274-287 in prothrombin by automated Edman degradation, was missing in the prothrombin Barcelona digest. In the chromatogram derived from prothrombin Barcelona, an additional peptide was observed. The amino acid sequence of this peptide was Ala-Ile-Glu-Gly-Cys-Thr-Ala-Thr-Ser-Glu-Tyr-Gln-Thr-Phe-Phe-Asn-Pro-Arg, corresponding to residues 269-287 in prothrombin except for the substitution of cysteine for arginine at residue 273. The substitution of cysteine for arginine was confirmed by tryptic digestion of 14C-carboxymethylated prothrombin Barcelona. Edman degradation of fragment 269-287 indicated the association of 14C with the cysteine at residue 273. The replacement of arginine by cysteine at residue 273, adjacent to the known factor Xa cleavage site, precludes normal activation of prothrombin Barcelona by factor Xa and the generation of thrombin.

Prothrombin is a gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein that binds to phospholipid vesicles in the presence of calcium ions after undergoing a metal ion-induced conformational transition. To integrate recent data into a scheme that is compatible with our knowledge of prothrombin-metal interaction, we have proposed a new model of prothrombin structure. In this model prothrombin undergoes two metal-dependent conformational transitions: PT----PT'----PT*. The first transition is not cation-specific, but the second transition is metal-selective for Ca(II), Sr(II), or Ba(II). Only the PT* conformer binds to phospholipid surfaces. To test this model, anti-prothrombin antibodies that only bind to prothrombin in the presence of Ca(II) but not Mg(II) (PT*-specific) were isolated, and termed anti-prothrombin X Ca(II)-specific. Half-maximal binding of antibody to prothrombin was observed at 0.1 mM CaCl2 or 1 mM SrCl2, but no binding was observed with Mg(II), Mn(II), or Ba(II). However, prothrombin in the presence of both Mg(II)/Ba(II) or Mn(II)/Ba(II) demonstrated significant interaction with the antibody. Prothrombin binding to phospholipid vesicles was inhibited by the anti-prothrombin X Ca(II)-specific antibody or its Fab fragment, but was not inhibited by anti-prothrombin X Mg(II) antibody or its Fab fragment directed at the PT' conformer. These results support this three-state model for prothrombin. The metal specificity characteristic of prothrombin-phospholipid interaction is a property required for the expression of the phospholipid-binding site in the binary prothrombin-metal complex.

The conversion of the blood coagulation zymogen prothrombin to thrombin is associated with the production of several cleavage intermediates and products. In contrast to earlier studies of prothrombin cleavage in chemically defined systems, the current investigation examines the fragmentation of human prothrombin in normal plasma. Radiolabeled prothrombin was added to platelet-poor relipidated normal human plasma, and clotting was initiated with the addition of Ca(II) and kaolin. Analysis of the radiolabeled prothrombin cleavage products by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of dodecyl sulfate and beta-mercaptoethanol identified a heretofore unobserved product of prothrombin activation with an apparent molecular weight of 45,000. This product was identified as fragment 1 X 2 X 3, the NH2-terminal 286 amino acids of prothrombin. The product was isolated from a prothrombin digest by immunoaffinity chromatography using anti-prothrombin:Ca(II) antibodies and by preparative gel electrophoresis. Its amino-terminal sequence is identical to that of prothrombin. Digestion of this product with either Factor Xa or thrombin yields, at a minimum, fragment 1 X 2 and fragment 1. Amino-terminal sequence analysis of the products obtained by digestion with Factor Xa of the unknown activation product indicated 3 amino acid residues at each cycle consistent with the presence of fragment 1, fragment 2, and fragment 3. To unambiguously identify the COOH-terminal amino acid sequence of the product, its factor Xa digestion products were separated by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Edman degradation of one peptide revealed the complete sequence of fragment 3. On this basis, we identify the Mr 45,000 polypeptide as fragment 1 X 2 X 3 and indicate that it is a prominent product of prothrombin conversion to thrombin when activation occurs in plasma.

Factor IX has been expressed to high levels within a recombinant host cell and the biologically active fraction subsequently purified to homogeneity for characterization. The coding sequence for Factor IX was inserted into a mammalian cell expression vector and transfected into dihydrofolate reductase-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells. The integrated DNA was amplified to a high copy number by selection for increasingly higher expression levels of the marker gene, dihydrofolate reductase, contained within a co-transfected plasmid. Cloned cell lines secreting over 100 micrograms/ml Factor IX antigen and up to 1.5 microgram/ml native Factor IX antigen have been obtained. Expression of biologically active Factor IX was dependent on the presence of vitamin K in the culture media. The gamma-carboxylated Factor IX was isolated from cell culture fluid by immunoaffinity chromatography using antibodies conformation-specific for the metal-stabilized conformer of Factor IX. This conformation is dependent upon metal ions and gamma-carboxyglutamic acid. Purified recombinant Factor IX migrated as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an electrophoretic mobility equivalent to plasma-derived Factor IX. The purified recombinant Factor IX demonstrated Factor IX coagulant activity, measured in Factor IX-deficient plasma, of 35-75 units/mg. Amino acid analysis of the alkaline hydrolysate of recombinant Factor IX demonstrated an average of 6-7 mol of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid per mol of Factor IX. NH2-terminal sequence analysis of the first 17 residues revealed equivalent amino acid sequences for both purified recombinant and plasma-derived Factor IX. The results represent the first purification and characterization of a biologically active, gamma-carboxylated vitamin K-dependent protein expressed in a recombinant DNA system.

Synthetic peptides including the γ-carboxylation recognition site and acidic amino acids were compared as substrates for vitamin K-dependent γ-carboxylation by bovine liver carboxylase. The 28-residue proPT28 (proprothrombin −18 to +10) and proFIX28 (pro-Factor IX −18 to +10) were carboxylated with a Kmof 3 εM. The Vmaxof proPT28 was 2–3 times greater than that of proFIX28. An analog of proFIX28 that contained the prothrombin propeptide had a Vmax2–3-fold greater than an analog of proPT28 that contained the Factor IX propeptide. proFIX28/RS-1, based upon Factor IX Cambridge, proFIX28/RQ-4, based upon Factor IX Oxford 3, and proFIX28 had equivalent Kmand Vmaxvalues. Analogs of proPT28 containing Ala6-Glu7or Glu6-Ala7were carboxylated at equivalent rates. A peptide containing Asp6-Asp7was carboxylated at a rate of about 1% of that of Glu carboxylation. Carboxylation of peptides containing Asp6-Glu7and Glu6-Asp7yielded results identical with peptides containing Asp6-Glu7and Glu6-Asp7. Carboxymethylcysteine was not carboxylated when substituted for Glu6 in a peptide containing Asp7. These results indicate that the prothrombin propeptide is more efficient in the carboxylation process than is the Factor IX propeptide, but that both propeptides direct carboxylation; the γ-carboxylation recognition site does not include residues −4 and −1; aspartic acid and carboxymethylcysteine are poor substrates for the carboxylase, but aspartic acid does not inhibit the carboxylation of adjacent glutamic acids.

DNA sequence analysis of the Factor IX gene from a hemophilia B patient (98% Factor IX antigen; <0.01 unit/ml clotting activity) has identified a point mutation in exon II. A guanine to adenine transition causes the substitution of a glutamine codon for an arginine codon at −4 in the propeptide of Factor IX. This variant, termed Factor IX San Dimas, circulates in the plasma as proFactor IX with a mutant 18-amino acid propeptide still attached. Like Factor IX Cambridge (Arg−1→ Ser), Factor IX San Dimas is unable to express metal-induced epitopes recognized by conformation-specific polyclonal antibodies. Amino acid analysis of the alkaline hydrolysate indicates that purified Factor IX San Dimas contains a reduced number of γ-carboxyglutamyl residues compared to Factor IX. However, this protein undergoes metal-induced quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence. In addition, Factor IX San Dimas is unable to interact with phospholipid vesicles. The absence of coagulant activity in Factor IX San Dimas can be attributed to impaired calcium-induced conformational changes and loss in the ability to bind phospholipid vesicles in the presence of calcium ions.

The calcium-stabilized antigenic determinants on bovine prothrombin were localized to the NH2-terminal 1-42 residues using conformation-specific antibodies. Polyclonal antibodies to the bovine prothrombin-Ca(II) complex were raised in rabbits, and purified antibody subpopulations were isolated by sequential immunoabsorption and affinity chromatography. Anti-prothrombin-Ca(II) antibodies, characterized by their absolute specificity for the prothrombin-metal complex (Tai, M. M., Furie, B. C., and Furie, B. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 2790-2795), bound to prothrombin, fragment 1, reduced and carboxymethylated fragment 1, and CNBr fragment (1-72) in solution. However, these antibodies do not bind significantly to the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-rich fragment (1-39), CNBr fragment (73-156), or prethrombin 1. To obviate the complex analysis of possible reasons for the lack of antibody binding to small peptides in solution, conformation-specific antibodies directed against defined regions of the whole prothrombin molecule were isolated. The influence of calcium ions on the binding of these site-specific antibody subpopulations to 125I-labeled prothrombin fragment 1 was evaluated. Anti-(1-39)N, anti-(1-42)N, anti-(1-72)N, and anti-(reduced and carboxymethylated fragment 1)N showed enhanced binding to prothrombin fragment 1 in the presence of Ca(II), indicating the presence of calcium-stabilized antigenic determinants within each of these regions on fragment 1. In contrast, calcium ions had no effect on the interaction of anti-des-(1-42)prothrombin, anti-prethrombin 1, anti-(43-72)N, and anti-(73-156)N antibodies with prothrombin fragment 1. These results indicate that the metal-induced conformational transition, monitored immunochemically, is localized to the NH2-terminal, gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-rich region of prothrombin between residues 1-42.

To identify structures on the platelet surface which become expressed after platelet activation, we have prepared murine monoclonal antibodies specific for thrombin-activated platelets. Hybridomas were screened for clones producing antibodies which bound to thrombin-activated platelets but not to resting platelets. Clone KC4 was identified. The binding of purified I-labeled KC4 antibody, an IgG1k, to thrombin-activated platelets was saturable. Minimal binding was observed to resting platelets. The interaction of antibody with thrombin-activated platelets was characterized by a binding constant, KD, of 7.2 +/- 0.4 nM and revealed 13,400 +/- 3,000 binding sites per platelet. The presence of Ca2+ or EDTA, a pH ranging from 4 to 10, or high ionic strength had no influence on antigen-antibody interaction. The KC4 antigen was expressed on the platelet surface after activation with ADP, collagen, epinephrine, or thrombin. The extent of [14C] serotonin release during activation was directly proportional to the availability of antigen on the platelet surface regardless of agonist or platelet aggregation. The antibody is directed against a single protein which migrated between GPIIb and GPIIa after sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. This protein was purified from platelet membranes by immunoaffinity chromatography using KC4 antibody-agarose and demonstrated an apparent molecular weight of 140,000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under both nonreducing and reducing conditions. Of the cells examined, only platelets contained this protein. These results indicate that platelet secretion is associated with the expression of an Mr = 140,000 integral membrane protein composed of a single polypeptide chain. This protein may be component of the internal granule membrane which is fused with the plasma membrane during activation.

The blood coagulation and regulatory proteins that contain gamma-carboxyglutamic acid are a part of a unique class of membrane binding proteins that require calcium for their interaction with cell membranes. Following protein biosynthesis, glutamic acids on these proteins are converted to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) in a reaction that requires vitamin K as a cofactor. The vitamin K-dependent proteins undergo a conformational transition upon metal ion binding, but only calcium ions mediate protein-phospholipid interaction. To identify the site on Factor IX that is required for phospholipid binding, we have determined the three-dimensional structure of the Factor IX Gla domain bound to magnesium ions by NMR spectroscopy. By comparison of this structure to that of the Gla domain bound to calcium ions, we localize the membrane binding site to a highly ordered structure including residues 1-11 of the Gla domain. In the presence of Ca2+, Factor IX Gla domain peptides that contain the photoactivatable amino acid p-benzoyl-L-phenylalanine at positions 6 or 9 cross-link to phospholipid following irradiation, while peptides lacking this amino acid analog or with this analog at position 46 did not cross-link. These results indicate that the NH2 terminus of the Gla domain, specifically including leucine 6 and phenylalanine 9 in the hydrophobic patch, is the contact surface on Factor IX that interacts with the phospholipid bilayer.

The vitamin K-dependent carboxylase, a constituent of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, catalyzes the conversion of reduced vitamin K to vitamin K epoxide and the concomitant conversion of glutamic acid to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid. To study structure-function relationships in the enzyme, seventeen clusters of charged residues of the bovine gamma-glutamyl carboxylase were substituted with alanines using site-specific mutagenesis. Wild-type and mutant carboxylase species were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells with an immunodetectable octapeptide inserted at their amino-terminal ends. Out of 17 mutant carboxylase species that contain a total of 41 charged residue to alanine substitutions, K217A/K218A (CBX217/218), R234A/H235A (CBX234/235), R359A/H360A/K361A (CBX359/360/361), R406A/H408A (CBX406/408), and R513A/K515A (CBX513/515) had impaired carboxylase activity compared with the wild-type enzyme. The vitamin K epoxidase activities of these mutants were reduced in parallel with the carboxylase activities. CBX217/218 appears to be inactive. High propeptide concentrations were required for stimulation of carboxylation of FLEEL by CBX234/235, CBX406/408, and CBX513/515, suggesting defects in the propeptide binding site. CBX359/360/361 showed normal affinity for the propeptide, FLEEL, proPT28, and vitamin K hydroquinone but exhibited a low catalytic rate for carboxylation. These results suggest that residue 217, residue 218, or both are either critical for catalysis or for maintaining the structure of a catalytically active enzyme. Regions around residues 234, 406, and 513 define in part the propeptide binding site, while the regions around residue 359 are involved in catalysis.

The gamma-glutamyl carboxylase and vitamin K epoxidase activities of a series of mutants of bovine vitamin K-dependent carboxylase with progressively larger COOH-terminal deletions have been analyzed. The recombinant wild-type (residues 1-758) and mutant protein carboxylases, Cbx 711, Cbx 676, and Cbx 572, representing residues 1-711, 1-676, and 1-572, respectively, were expressed in baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells. Wild-type carboxylase had a Km for the substrate Phe-Leu-Glu-Glu-Leu (FLEEL) of 0.87 mM; the carboxylation of FLEEL was stimulated 2.5-fold by proPT18, the propeptide of prothrombin. Its Km for vitamin K hydroquinone was 23 microM and the specific epoxidase activity of the carboxylase was 938 pmol vitamin KO/30 min/pmol of carboxylase. Cbx 711, which was also stimulated by proPT18, had a Km for FLEEL, a Km for vitamin K hydroquinone, and a specific epoxidase activity that was comparable to the wild-type carboxylase. In contrast Cbx 572 lacked both carboxylase and epoxidase activities. Although Cbx 676 had a normal carboxylase active site in terms of the Km for FLEEL and its stimulation by proPT18, the Km for vitamin K hydroquinone was 540 microM, and the specific epoxidase activity was 97 pmol KO/30 min/pmol of Cbx 676. The catalytic efficiencies of Cbx 676 for glutamate carboxylation and vitamin K epoxidation were decreased 15- and 400-fold, respectively, from wild-type enzyme reflecting the requirement for formation of an activated vitamin K species for carboxylation to occur. These data indicate that the truncation of COOH-terminal segments of the carboxylase had no effect on FLEEL or propeptide recognition, but in the case of Cbx 676, selectively affected the interaction with vitamin K hydroquinone and the generation of epoxidase activity. These data suggest that a vitamin K epoxidase activity domain may reside near the COOH terminus while the carboxylase active site domain resides toward the NH2 terminus.

The activated platelet is a potential target for the localization of thrombi in vivo since, after stimulation and secretion of granule contents, activated platelets are concentrated at sites of blood clot formation. In this study, we used antibodies specific for a membrane protein of activated platelets to detect experimental thrombi in an animal model. PADGEM (platelet activation-dependent granule-external membrane protein), a platelet alpha-granule membrane protein, is translocated to the plasma membrane during platelet activation and granule secretion. Since PADGEM is internal in unstimulated platelets, polyclonal anti-PADGEM and monoclonal KC4 antibodies do not bind to circulating resting platelets but do interact with activated platelets. Dacron graft material incubated with radiolabeled KC4 or anti-PADGEM antibodies in the presence of thrombin-activated platelet-rich plasma bound most of the antibody. Imaging experiments with 123I-labeled anti-PADGEM in baboons with an external arterial-venous Dacron shunt revealed rapid uptake in the thrombus induced by the Dacron graft; control experiments with 123I-labeled nonimmune IgG exhibited minimal uptake. Deep venous thrombi, formed by using percutaneous balloon catheters to stop blood flow in the femoral vein of baboons, were visualized with 123I-labeled anti-PADGEM. Thrombi were discernible against blood pool background activity without subtraction techniques within 1 hr. No target enhancement was seen with 123I-labeled nonimmune IgG. 123I-labeled anti-PADGEM cleared the blood pool with an initial half-disappearance time of 6 min and did not interfere with hemostasis. These results indicate that radioimmunoscintigraphy with anti-PADGEM antibodies can visualize thrombi in baboon models and is a promising technique for clinical thrombus detection in humans.

Post-translational processing of Factor IX includes glycosylation, cleavage of the signal peptide and propeptide, vitamin K-dependent carboxylation of specific glutamic acid residues to form gamma-carboxyglutamic acid, and beta-hydroxylation of aspartic acid at residue 64 to form beta-hydroxyaspartic acid. The human Factor IX cDNA coding sequence was modified in the propeptide region (residue −18 to −1) using oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis, and the altered Factor IX cDNA was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The effects of the mutations on proteolytic processing, gamma-carboxylation, and beta-hydroxylation were assessed by direct structural analysis. After purification, the molecular weight of each of the recombinant Factor IX species and its NH2-terminal amino acid sequence were shown to be identical to those of plasma Factor IX. gamma-Carboxyglutamic acid and beta-hydroxyaspartic acid analyses revealed that recombinant wild-type Factor IX contained 9.2 gamma-carboxyglutamic acid and 0.3 beta-hydroxyaspartic acid residues/molecule compared with 11.4 gamma-carboxyglutamic acid and 0.39 beta-hydroxyaspartic acid residues in plasma Factor IX. When the 18-residue propeptide was deleted or when the cells were grown in the presence of sodium warfarin, secreted Factor IX contained no detectable gamma-carboxyglutamic acid but 0.36 and 0.40 residues of beta-hydroxyaspartic acid, respectively. Point mutations leading to substitution of alanine for phenylalanine at residue −16 or glutamic acid for alanine at residue −10 contained 0.2 and 1.7 gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues, respectively, and 0.2 residues of beta-hydroxyaspartic acid. These data confirm that the propeptide mutations made do not interfere with proteolytic processing and that the Factor IX propeptide contains a recognition site that designates the adjacent glutamic acid-rich domain for gamma-carboxylation. In contrast, beta-hydroxylation of aspartic acid 64 is an independent process which does not require vitamin K and is mediated through a hydroxylation recognition site in the mature Factor IX, not in the propeptide.

The gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-rich domain of blood coagulation Factor IX is required for the binding of the protein to phospholipid membranes. To investigate the three-dimensional structure of this domain, a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 1-47 of Factor IX was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy. In the absence of metal ions, the proton chemical shift dispersion in the one-dimensional NMR spectrum indicated that the peptide contains regular structural elements. Upon the addition of Ca(II) or Mg(II), large chemical shift changes were observed in the amide proton and methyl proton regions of the spectrum, consistent with the conformational transitions that metal ions are known to induce in native Factor IX. The apopeptide was studied by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy at 500 MHz to determine its solution structure. Protons were assigned using total correlation spectroscopy, nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy, and double quantum-filtered correlation spectroscopy experiments. Intensities of cross-peaks in the nuclear Overhauser effect spectrum were used to generate a set of interproton distance restraints. The structure of the apopeptide was then calculated using distance geometry methods. There are three structural elements in the apopeptide that are linked by a flexible polypeptide backbone. These elements include a short amino-terminal tetrapeptide loop (amino acids 6-9), the disulfide-containing hexapeptide loop (amino acids 18-23), and a carboxyl-terminal alpha helix (amino acids 37-46). Amide hydrogen exchange kinetics indicate that the majority of the peptide is solvent accessible, except in the carboxyl-terminal element. The structured regions in the apopeptide are insufficient to support phospholipid binding, indicating the importance of additional structural features in the Ca(II)-stabilized conformer.

The vitamin K-dependent carboxylase catalyzes the posttranslational modification of specific glutamic acid residues to form gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues within the vitamin K-dependent proteins. This enzyme recognizes the gamma-carboxylation recognition site on the propeptide of the precursor forms of the vitamin K-dependent blood coagulation proteins. To purify this enzyme to homogeneity, the carboxylase from bovine liver microsomes was solubilized with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), the protein was fractionated with ammonium sulfate, and then the enzyme was isolated by affinity chromatography using a synthetic peptide based upon the structure of the prothrombin propeptide. Elution with 10 mM propeptide yielded a single major band on SDS gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 77,000. In the presence of high concentrations of propeptide, only minimal carboxylase activity was measurable. Antibodies to the protein inhibited the carboxylase activity in crude preparations. In an alternative affinity purification strategy the propeptide was coupled through an NH2-terminal cysteine to an activated thiol-Sepharose column. The carboxylase-propeptide complex was eluted at 25 degrees C by reductive cleavage of the enzyme-propeptide complex in the presence of detergent and phospholipids. The eluted protein (Mr, 77,000) contained both stable vitamin K-dependent carboxylase and vitamin K epoxidase activity. The protein, purified by either method, was detected as a single band (Mr, 77,000) in a Western blot using anti-carboxylase antibodies. A 10,000-fold purification of carboxylase activity from crude microsomes was estimated. Purified bovine liver vitamin K-dependent carboxylase should facilitate the study of its structure and of the mechanism of action of vitamin K as a cofactor in the reaction catalyzed by this enzyme.

To determine the functional role of the metal-dependent conformational changes in Factor IX, two populations of conformation-specific anti-Factor IX antibodies were prepared. Anti-Factor IX X Mg(II) antibodies bind to Factor IX in the presence of Mg(II) and other metal ions, but not in the absence of metal ions. Anti-Factor IX X Ca(II)-specific antibodies bind to Factor IX in the presence of Ca(II) and Sr(II), but not in the presence of Mn(II), Mg(II), and Ba(II). In the presence of a metal ion that induces the conformational transition recognized by the anti-Factor IX X Mg(II) antibodies, the concentrations of CaCl2 and SrCl2 needed for the half-maximal binding of the anti-Factor IX X Ca(II)-specific antibodies to Factor IX were reduced 3- and 20-fold, respectively. Factor IX binding to phospholipid vesicles was inhibited by the Fab fragments of the anti-Factor IX X Ca(II)-specific antibodies, but was not inhibited by the Fab fragments of the anti-Factor IX X Mg(II) antibodies. Factor XIa activation of Factor IX was also inhibited by the Fab fragments of the anti-Factor IX X Ca(II)-specific antibodies, but not by the anti-Factor IX X Mg(II) antibodies. These results support the hypothesis that Factor IX undergoes two metal-dependent conformational transitions: FIX→FIX′→FIX*. The first transition (FIX→FIX′) is metal-dependent but cation-nonselective; the second transition (FIX′→FIX*) is metal-selective for Ca(II) or Sr(II). The second transition results in the expression of conformational determinants necessary for membrane binding and the Ca(II)-dependent activation of Factor IX by Factor XIa. These results suggest chemical similarity between a surface of a domain of Factor XIa and phospholipid vesicles, both of which interact with Factor IX in the presence of Ca(II).