title: Snake venom prothrombin activators similar to blood coagulation factor Xa.
abstract: Activation of prothrombin to mature thrombin in vivo occurs by the proteolytic action of the prothrombinase complex consisting of serine proteinase factor Xa, and cofactors that include factor Va, Ca(2+) ions and phospholipids. Several exogenous prothrombin activators are found in snake venom. Among these, Group C prothrombin activators resemble the factor Xa-factor Va complex, while Group D activators are structurally and functionally similar to factor Xa. This review provides a detailed description of current knowledge on Group D prothrombin activators and highlights the importance of studying this family of proteins in enhancing our understanding of structure-function relationships in the mammalian prothrombinase complex.
authors.affiliation: The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremiah S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: R Manjunatha
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005165:Factor V / Q000502:physiology; D015951:Factor Xa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D012910:Snake Venoms; C022475:prothrombinase complex; D005165:Factor V; D011516:Prothrombin; D015951:Factor Xa