Human Coagulation: Thrombin, Fibrinogen, and Fibrin

Coagulation, the process of blood clotting, is executed by the body when blood vessels are damaged. A complex chain of events occurs for which we studied the final step-the creation of threadlike fibrin fibers.

The final process in coagulation begins when the recently activated enzyme thrombin binds to the soluble protein fibrinogen. Thrombin cleaves the fibrinogen twice thereby producing the activated and now insoluble protein fibrin. Fibrin can now attract other platelets and insoluble matter within the bloodstream to build a sealed clot.

Current Research

Proteins from Database:
2a45-Thrombin with Fibrin Attached
1deq-Bovine Fibrinogen
2uuk-Thrombin with Antithrombin Hirugen I
1n73-Fibrin
1etr-Thrombin w/ Benzamidine and Arginine Inhibitors

Scholarly Articles:
"Structural Basis for Sequential Cleavage of Fibrinopeptides upon Fibrin Assembly"(Biochemistry 2006, 45, 3588-3597)
"Anticoagulant and Angiplatelet Agents: Their Clinical and Device Application(s) Together with Usages to Engineer Surfaces" (Biomacromolecules 2004, 5, 798-813)