title: The heparin-binding site of antithrombin is crucial for antiangiogenic activity.
abstract: The heparin-binding site of antithrombin is shown here to play a crucial role in mediating the antiangiogenic activity of conformationally altered cleaved and latent forms of the serpin. Blocking the heparin-binding site of cleaved or latent antithrombin by complexation with a high-affinity heparin pentasaccharide abolished the serpin's ability to inhibit proliferation, migration, capillary-like tube formation, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) signaling, and perlecan gene expression in bFGF-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Mutation of key heparin binding residues, when combined with modifications of Asn-linked carbohydrate chains near the heparin-binding site, also could abrogate the anti-proliferative activity of the cleaved serpin. Surprisingly, mutation of Lys114, which blocks anticoagulant activation of antithrombin by heparin, caused the native protein to acquire antiproliferative activity without the need for conformational change. Together, these results indicate that the heparin-binding site of antithrombin is of crucial importance for mediating the serpin's antiangiogenic activity and that heparin activation of native antithrombin constitutes an antiangiogenic switch that is responsible for turning off the antiangiogenic activity of the native serpin.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Biology of Oral Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, Rm 530E, Dentistry (M/C 860), 801 S Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Weiqing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Izaguirre
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Lester F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000991:Antithrombins; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; D011134:Polysaccharides; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C071927:perlecan; D006493:Heparin