Title: The Interaction of Glycosaminoglycans with Heparin Cofactor II: Structure and Activity of a High-Affinity Dermatan Sulfate Hexasaccharide
Abstract: The anticoagulant activities of glycosaminoglycans are mediated by antithrombin III (ATIII) and heparin cofactor II (HCII), members of the “serpin” family that are present in plasma at micromolar concentrations. ATIII inhibits several of the proteases involved in coagulation, particularly thrombin and factor Xa, whereas HCII specifically inhibits thrombin.1 Both dermatan sulfate and heparin increase the rate of inhibition of thrombin by HCII more than 1000-fold.2 In contrast, ATIII is stimulated only by heparin. HCII functions as a pseudosubstrate for thrombin, forming a stable 1:1 complex. Glycosaminoglycans accelerate complex formation in part by providing a template to which both the inhibitor and the protease bind.3
Publication Year: 1992
Publication Date: 1992-01-01
Language: en
Type: review
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 17
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