Influence of Zn2+ on the kinetic events that contribute to the 500-kDa dextran-sulfate-dependent activation of factor XII (Hageman factor)

Zinc: An important cofactor in haemostasis and thrombosis

There is mounting evidence that zinc, the second most abundant transition metal in blood, is an important mediator of haemostasis and thrombosis. Prompted by the observation that zinc deficiency is associated with bleeding and clotting abnormalities, there now is evidence that zinc serves as an effector of coagulation, anticoagulation and fibrinolysis. Zinc binds numerous plasma proteins and modulates their structure and function. Because activated platelets secrete zinc into the local microenvironment, the concentration of zinc increases in the vicinity of a thrombus. Consequently, the role of zinc varies depending on the microenvironment; a feature that endows zinc with the capacity to spatially and temporally regulate haemostasis and thrombosis. This paper reviews the mechanisms by which zinc regulates coagulation, platelet aggregation, anticoagulation and fibrinolysis and outlines how zinc serves as a ubiquitous modulator of haemostasis and thrombosis.

Metals in air pollution particles decrease whole-blood coagulation time

The mechanism underlying procoagulative effects of air pollution particle exposure is not known. The authors tested the postulate that (1) the water-soluble components of an air pollution particle could affect whole-blood coagulation time and (2) metals included in this fraction were responsible for this effect. Exposure to the water-soluble fraction of particulate matter (PM), at doses as low as 50 ng/ml original particle, significantly diminished the whole-blood coagulation time. Inclusion of deferoxamine prolonged coagulation time following the exposures to the water-soluble fraction, whereas equivalent doses of ferroxamine had no effect. Except for nickel, all metal sulfates shortened the whole-blood coagulation time. Iron and zinc were two metals with the greatest capacity to reduce the coagulation time, with an effect observed at 10 ng/ml. Finally, in contrast to the anticoagulants citrate and EDTA, their iron complexes were found to be procoagulative. The authors conclude that metals in the water-soluble fraction of air pollution particles decrease whole-blood coagulation time. These metals can potentially contribute to procoagulative effects observed following human exposures to air pollution particles.

Expression, refolding, and activation of the catalytic domain of human blood coagulation factor XII

Human blood coagulation factor XII (FXII; 80 kDa) contains a C-terminal serine protease zymogen domain, which becomes activated upon contacting a negative surface. Activated FXII (alphaFXIIa) brings about reciprocal activation of FXII and kallikrein that by further hydrolysis produces the free catalytic domain (betaFXIIa; 28 kDa). Increased levels of alphaFXIIa are associated with coronary heart disease, sepsis, and diabetes. Biophysical investigation of the structural basis of activation, substrate specificity, and regulation of FXII requires an efficient bacterial system for producing the wild-type and mutant recombinant proteins. Here, the cDNA of the zymogen domain of FXII (betaFXII) was cloned into the pET-28a(+) vector and the plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) and overexpressed. The multi-disulfide, recombinant protein, His(6)-betaFXII (rbetaFXII), expressed as an inclusion body, was purified by means of a Ni(2+)-charged resin. The matrix-bound rbetaFXII was subjected to refolding with the glutathione redox system and activated by the in vivo activator, kallikrein. The active form, rbetaFXIIa, obtained in milligram quantities, exhibited similar structural and comparable functional properties relative to human betaFXIIa, as indicated by circular dichroism spectroscopy and kinetics of substrate hydrolysis. Thermodynamics of enzyme:inhibitor complex formation, including the expected 1:1 stoichiometry, was determined for rbetaFXIIa by isothermal calorimetric titration with a specific recombinant protein inhibitor, Cucurbita maxima trypsin inhibitor-V (rCMTI-V; 7kDa).