The anticoagulant effect of adenosine‐triphosphate (atp) on blood plasma

Abstract

FOUR FIGURES IKTRODUCTION Protoplasm and blood have been shown by Heilbrunn ( '28) to possess comparable mechanisms for coagulation, i.e. the surface precipitation reaction and the gelation of protoplasm a r e both closely related to the clotting reaction of blood. Heilbrunn ( '40) reported the similarity in the physicochemical behavior of the protoplasm of muscle to that of other cells. The clotting activities of blood plasma, muscle protoplasm, and protoplasm in general were discussed by Heilbrunn ('43) and were shown to adhere to the same general pattern; namely, that upon excitation or injury of a cell, thromboplastic substance( s ) a r e released which in the presence of ionic calcium hring about a gelation or clotting of both protoplasm and blood plasma. I n 1941, Banga and Szent-Gyorgyi, working with the slieletal muscle of the rabbit, isolated two types of protein which more recently have become known a s myosin and actin. These proteins, which form a complex (actomyosin) are thought to be constituents of the contractile elements of muscle fibres. Szent-Gyorgyi ( '51) postulated that ATP participated in muscular contraction by acting on actomyosin. H e claimed 'Presented t o the Faculty of the Graduate Scliool of the University of Pennsylvania i n partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.