SOME PROPERTIES OF THROMBIN PREPARATIONS

Abstract

Bio-resin thrombin preparations were found to contain three weak precipitinogens. The clotting activity was not demonstrably associated with the precipitinogenic systems. Further, work was done on methods for the purification of citrate resin thrombin, and its clotting activity is also not associated with a precipitinogenic system. The N-terminal amino acid of both bio-resin thrombin and citrate resin thrombin was found to be glutamic acid. The two preparations were found to be homogeneous upon ultracentrifugal examination and could not be differentiated on the basis of sedimentation constants. Since "citrate" activation and "bio" activation produce eventually similar thrombin material, the autocatalytic activation of prothrombin in 25% sodium citrate solution can be used as an ideal model of prothrombin activation. The prothrombin first dissociates to form a derivative that does not form thrombin in the two-stage analytical reagents. Then a second alteration occurs in which the derivative again may form thrombin in the two-stage analytical reagents. Then thrombin activity appears as esterase activity, then as clotting activity. Later the clotting activity may be lost and finally also the esterase activity. The original prothrombin is a precipitinogen while the active thrombin is not.