Fibrinogen Bern I: A Hereditary Fibrinogen Variant With Defective Conformational Stabilization By Calcium Ions

Inherited hypodysfibrinogenemia (fibrinogen Bern I) was found in four members (two generations) of a family with no haemorrhagic or thrombotic history. Fibrin aggregation curves (350 nm, 37°C) with patient plasma or purified fibrinogen Bern I, after addition of thrombin, were normal at high calcium concentrations (5mM) but delayed at lower calcium concentrations (≤0.lmM). The release of fibrinopeptide A was normal. Whereas the polypeptide chains of fibrinogen Bern I were indistinguishable from normal fibrinogen by SDS-gel-electrophoresis, an abnormal γ-chain with a decreased negative charge was found by isoelectric focussing.

Plasmic degradation o| normal fibrinogen, in the presence of calcium (≥ImM), results in only one terminal D fragment which is stabilized by calcium against further degradation of γ-chains. In contrast, degradation of fibrinogen Bern I, under the same conditions, yielded at least two additional smaller D fragments. In conclusion, fibrinogen Bern I is characterized by defective calcium binding in the D domain of the γ-chain.