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Structural and energetic characteristics of the heparin-binding site in antithrombotic protein C

Friedrich, Ute LU ; Blom, Anna LU orcid ; Dahlbäck, Björn LU and Villoutreix, Bruno O. (2001) In Journal of Biological Chemistry 276(26). p.24122-24128
Abstract
Human activated protein C (APC) is a key component of a natural anticoagulant system that regulates blood coagulation. In vivo, the catalytic activity of APC is regulated by two serpins, alpha1-antitrypsin and the protein C inhibitor (PCI), the inhibition by the latter being stimulated by heparin. We have identified a heparin-binding site in the serine protease domain of APC and characterized the energetic basis of the interaction with heparin. According to the counter-ion condensation theory, the binding of heparin to APC is 66% ionic in nature and comprises four to six net ionic interactions. To localize the heparin-binding site, five recombinant APC variants containing amino acid exchanges in loops 37, 60, and 70 (chymotrypsinogen... (More)
Human activated protein C (APC) is a key component of a natural anticoagulant system that regulates blood coagulation. In vivo, the catalytic activity of APC is regulated by two serpins, alpha1-antitrypsin and the protein C inhibitor (PCI), the inhibition by the latter being stimulated by heparin. We have identified a heparin-binding site in the serine protease domain of APC and characterized the energetic basis of the interaction with heparin. According to the counter-ion condensation theory, the binding of heparin to APC is 66% ionic in nature and comprises four to six net ionic interactions. To localize the heparin-binding site, five recombinant APC variants containing amino acid exchanges in loops 37, 60, and 70 (chymotrypsinogen numbering) were created. As demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance, reduction of the electropositive character of loops 37 and 60 resulted in complete loss of heparin binding. The functional consequence was loss in heparin-induced stimulation of APC inhibition by PCI, whereas the PCI-induced APC inhibition in the absence of heparin was enhanced. Presumably, the former observations were due to the inability of heparin to bridge some APC mutants to PCI, whereas the increased inhibition of certain APC variants by PCI in the absence of heparin was due to reduced repulsion between the enzymes and the serpin. The heparin-binding site of APC was also shown to interact with heparan sulfate, albeit with lower affinity. In conclusion, we have characterized and spatially localized the functionally important heparin/heparan sulfate-binding site of APC. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Biological Chemistry
volume
276
issue
26
pages
24122 - 24128
publisher
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
external identifiers
  • pmid:11316800
  • scopus:0035968239
  • pmid:11316800
ISSN
1083-351X
DOI
10.1074/jbc.M011567200
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
93e52820-1538-441b-b0d4-78c54f0a8d26 (old id 1120501)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:13:08
date last changed
2022-01-27 00:33:05
@article{93e52820-1538-441b-b0d4-78c54f0a8d26,
  abstract     = {{Human activated protein C (APC) is a key component of a natural anticoagulant system that regulates blood coagulation. In vivo, the catalytic activity of APC is regulated by two serpins, alpha1-antitrypsin and the protein C inhibitor (PCI), the inhibition by the latter being stimulated by heparin. We have identified a heparin-binding site in the serine protease domain of APC and characterized the energetic basis of the interaction with heparin. According to the counter-ion condensation theory, the binding of heparin to APC is 66% ionic in nature and comprises four to six net ionic interactions. To localize the heparin-binding site, five recombinant APC variants containing amino acid exchanges in loops 37, 60, and 70 (chymotrypsinogen numbering) were created. As demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance, reduction of the electropositive character of loops 37 and 60 resulted in complete loss of heparin binding. The functional consequence was loss in heparin-induced stimulation of APC inhibition by PCI, whereas the PCI-induced APC inhibition in the absence of heparin was enhanced. Presumably, the former observations were due to the inability of heparin to bridge some APC mutants to PCI, whereas the increased inhibition of certain APC variants by PCI in the absence of heparin was due to reduced repulsion between the enzymes and the serpin. The heparin-binding site of APC was also shown to interact with heparan sulfate, albeit with lower affinity. In conclusion, we have characterized and spatially localized the functionally important heparin/heparan sulfate-binding site of APC.}},
  author       = {{Friedrich, Ute and Blom, Anna and Dahlbäck, Björn and Villoutreix, Bruno O.}},
  issn         = {{1083-351X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{26}},
  pages        = {{24122--24128}},
  publisher    = {{American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology}},
  series       = {{Journal of Biological Chemistry}},
  title        = {{Structural and energetic characteristics of the heparin-binding site in antithrombotic protein C}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M011567200}},
  doi          = {{10.1074/jbc.M011567200}},
  volume       = {{276}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}