Clot Component Reacting with Thrombin

Abstract

SummaryThe fibrin clot induced by a minimum amount of thrombin contains two components: one which forms the fibrin polymer spontaneously and another which does not form the polymer except in the presence of thrombin. The latter component produces non-protein nitrogen like fibrinogen itself, when reacting with thrombin. It is reasonable to conclude that the fissile component of the clot is an intermediate product of the fibrin formation.

The Molecular Structure of Fibrinogen

“…The studies of Laki and Mommaerts 32 33 34 indicated that the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin occurs in two steps: thrombin first reacts with fibrinogen, and prepares, in some way, for polymerization, which occurs only when the ionic milieu is suitable. Furthermore, the studies of Lorand 35 and Kowarzyk 36 on the release of nonprotein nitrogen during clotting of purified fibrinogen, and the studies on the electrophoretic mobility of fibrinogen and fibrin in urea solutions by Mihalyi 37 also indicated that a change in the fibrinogen molecule had occurred during the transformation.…”