Thrombin is a key enzyme in blood coagulation; its significance to health problems (e.g. circulatory diseases and stroke) cannot be underestimated. The studies proposed here contribute to a more detailed description of thrombin action at the molecular level as a basis for future pharmacological therapy. The long term goals of this research are to understand the structure and function of human thrombins at the molecular level.
The specific aims of this project are to 1) formulate a detailed map of the thrombin active site and its immediate periphery including the measurement in solution of interatomic distances; 2) Describe and characterize the fibrinogen recognition site by characterizing and identifying these Alpha-thrombin regions or residues involved in fibrinogen binding, and how they differ in the non-coagulant Gamma-thrombin form. 3) Examine these specific binding regions as platelet receptor agonists in thrombin induced platelet aggregation secretion phenomena. 4) Examine other thrombin-macromolecule interactions at the molecular level (hirudin, Alpha2-macroglobulin). These studies will involve the combined biochemical disciplines of enzymology, fluorescence, ESR, NMR and laser photo CIDNP NMR. Alpha-Thrombin plays a central bioregulatory role in hemostasis besides its primary function of catalyzing the conversion of fibrinogen to a clot. One cannot undervalue its importance in the medical sciences when recognizing that deaths and disabilities exceed those caused by cancer or any other health disorder. It is clear that the understanding and eventual control of thrombin function in hemostasis is a high priority in medical research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL024549-09
Application #
3337749
Study Section
Hematology Subcommittee 2 (HEM)
Project Start
1986-09-01
Project End
1991-01-31
Budget Start
1988-02-01
Budget End
1989-01-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Ohio State University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
098987217
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43210
Scheffler, Julie E; Berliner, Lawrence J (2004) Aspartame and aspartame derivatives effect human thrombin catalytic activity. Biophys Chem 112:285-91
Sankarapandi, S; Walz, D A; Zafar, R S et al. (1995) Electron spin resonance and fluorescence studies of the conformational environment of the thiol groups of thrombospondin: interactions with thrombin. Biochemistry 34:10491-6
Rowand, J K; Marucha, P; Berliner, L J (1992) Hirudin C-terminal fragments inhibit thrombin induced neutrophil chemotaxis. Thromb Haemost 67:289-91
Rowand, J K; Berliner, L J (1992) Structural differences in active site-labeled thrombin complexes with hirudin isoinhibitors. J Protein Chem 11:483-8
Nienaber, V L; Young, S L; Birktoft, J J et al. (1992) Conformational similarities between one-chain and two-chain tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA): implications to the activation mechanism on one-chain t-PA. Biochemistry 31:3852-61
Nienaber, V L; Berliner, L J (1991) Subtle differences in active site structure between bovine and human thrombins: ESR and fluorescence studies. Thromb Haemost 65:40-5
Musci, G; Berliner, L J; Esmon, C T (1988) Evidence for multiple conformational changes in the active center of thrombin induced by complex formation with thrombomodulin: an analysis employing nitroxide spin-labels. Biochemistry 27:769-73
Zhao, B L; Musci, G; Sugawara, Y et al. (1988) Spin-label and fluorescence labeling studies of the thioester bonds in human alpha 2-macroglobulin. Biochemistry 27:5304-8
Musci, G; Berliner, L J (1987) Ligands which effect human protein C activation by thrombin. J Biol Chem 262:13889-91
Berliner, L J; Birktoft, J J; Miller, T L et al. (1986) Thrombin: active-site topography. Ann N Y Acad Sci 485:80-95

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