Amine specificity in transpeptidation. Inhibition of fibrin cross-linking

Analysis of a fibrin formation abnormality in a case of multiple myeloma

Studies were performed to analyse the inhibitory effect of a myeloma globulin (IgG) on fibrin formation. This inhibitory activity was very intense and caused a severe bleeding disorder which proved fatal. The isolated myeloma globulin inhibited all three stages of fibrin formation: the proteolytic action of thrombin on fibrinogen, the aggregation of fibrin monomers and the stabilization of fibrin by cross-linkages in the gamma and alpha chains. Purified factor XIII, even in excess, previously activated by the addition of thrombin and calcium, did not correct this defect in cross linking. Our results suggest that this myeloma globulin induced a blockage of some receptors near the cross linking sites.

Plasmic degradation of human fibrinogen. IV. Identification of subunit chain remnants in fragment Y

A method is presented for detection of cross-linking acceptor sites on fibrinogen chains, using monodansyl-cadaverine labeling in the presence of activated fibrin stabilizing factor, and polyacrylamide electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Fluorescent gamma-chain monomers and dimers were produced at a considerably faster rate than the labeled alpha-chain derivative. Purified fragments X, Y and D were prepared all from the same plasmic digest of fibrinogen. Following incubation with fibrin stabilizing factor, thrombin and monodansyl-cadaverine, they were reduced with beta-mercaptoethanol and examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate/acrylamide electrophoresis. Three gamma-chains (mol. wts 49 000, 42 000 and 39 000) had reacted with dansyl-cadaverine while no alpha-chain remnant took up the label. Additional protein and carbohydrate staining further facilitated identification of the individual subunit chains. At least three critical peptide bonds, located on alpha, beta- and gamma-chain remnants, must be broken during conversion of fragment Y into D and E. Sequential cleavage results in heterogeneous appearance of reduced subunit chains. As a consequence, there exist several molecular entities of fragment Y, all of which may have the same molecular weight though they represent various products of progressive plasmic digestion. Our results are compatible with the model of asymmetric degradation of fibrinogen, according to which fragment X produces 1 mol of fragment E e and 2 mol of the monomeric fragment D.

Thiolester substrates for transamidating enzymes: studies on fibrinoligase

Esters of thiocholine were shown to inhibit the crosslinking of fibrin clots by the transamidating enzyme, fibrinoligase (thrombin-activated fibrin-stabilizing factor or activated Factor XIII). Inhibition depended on the nature of the acylating group with the phenylpropionyl, phenylbutyryl, and trans-cinnamoyl esters being most effective of the compounds tested so far. Use of the thiolesters made it possible for the first time to study the reactions of fibrinoligase in fully synthetic substrate systems. Enzyme-catalyzed acyl-group transfers from the thiol-esters to a fluorescent amine [N-(5-aminopentyl) - 5 - dimethylamino - 1 - naphthalenesulfonamide] could be readily demonstrated and measured.Trans-cinnamoylthiocholine reacted with fibrinoligase in a totally calcium-dependent manner in the absence of any added amine, thus providing the first evidence for an esterolytic pathway for this enzyme. Spectral qualities, as well as appreciable extent of solubility in water, would seem to make trans-cinnamoylthiocholine a specially suitable substrate for further studies.

Transamidase reactions involved in the enzymic coagulation of semen: isolation of -glutamyl- -lysine dipeptide from clotted secretion protein of guinea pig seminal vesicle

New supportive evidence is advanced in favor of the hypothesis that the enzymic coagulation of guinea pig semen involves transamidase reactions that result in the formation of gamma-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine intermolecular cross linkages between molecules of a basic protein in seminal vesicle secretion. The dipeptide gamma-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine was isolated in large quantities from proteolytic digests of the coagulated basic vesicular secretion protein that comprises the seminal clot.

Intramolecular localization of the acceptor cross-linking sites in fibrin

Using 1-(14)C-glycine ethyl ester to titrate and label the acceptor cross-linking sites in fibrin, it was possible to localize and characterize the reactivity of these sites. In terms of sulfitolyzed chain fragments, both alpha and gamma chains were shown to act as amine-acceptors, the site in gamma being more reactive. Identification and isolation of the acceptor loci were also achieved after cyanogen bromide fragmentation. It is interesting that the "N-terminal disulfide knot" portion of fibrin does not seem to contain acceptor functions.

Diagnostic and genetic studies on fibrin-stabilizing factor with a new assay based on amine incorporation

Fibrinoligase, the fibrin cross-linking enzyme, transiently appearing during the course of coagulation in normal blood, was shown to catalyze the incorporation of a fluorescent amine, monodansylcadaverine [or N-(5-aminopentyl)-5-dimethylamino-1-naphthalene-sulfonamide] into casein. The reaction provided the basis of a sensitive fluorimetric method for measuring the activity of the enzyme (and also of similar other transpeptidases, such as transglutaminase). In tests involving plasma, certain difficulties had to be overcome which were mainly due to the fact that the enzyme itself does not occur in citrated plasma. Only its precursor (fibrin-stabilizing factor or factor XIII) is present, still requiring limited proteolytic activation by thrombin. Thus, in order to measure amine incorporation with plasma as a source of the factor, thrombin must be added. This necessitated a differential desensitization of the intrinsic fibrinogen so that the latter could not clot and could not thereby interfere with amine incorporation. Also, the thrombin-inactivating capacity of plasma had to be saturated to enable full conversion of the factor to the transpeptidase. Concentrations of casein, monodansylcadaverine, calcium, and hydrogen ions were chosen to permit almost maximal velocity of amine incorporation. A linear relationship with regard to plasma concentration could be obtained only under such conditions. No similar assay is presently available for quantitatively evaluating fibrin-stabilizing factor levels in plasma.The amine incorporation test was applied to a clinical case of hereditary total fibrin-stabilizing factor deficiency. The effect of transfusion therapy was studied, and some of the patient's relatives were examined. Whereas a paternal aunt and uncle gave values well within the normal range, a brother and the mother proved to be partially deficient and could be considered as heterozygous carriers. The father appeared to have a reduced level of fibrin-stabilizing factor, though not quite as low as the other two relatives. Two infusions (1 liter each) of fresh normal plasma, administered about 26 hr apart, brought levels in the patient's plasma close to those found in the mother and brother. The corrective power of the transfusions, however, rapidly declined within 5-6 days. Futility of the last transfusion could be ascribed to the appearance of a neutralizing antibody directed against the precursor stabilizing factor, a serious complication. General diagnostic versatility and potential of the quantitative amine incorporation assay with plasma is discussed.