Summary
Binding of von Willebrand factor (vWF) to a variety of extracellular matrix (ECM)
components and to platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex is important in mediating
platelet adhesion and aggregation in the early stage of hemostasis. We previously
purified a potent antithrombotic protein, named crotalin, functionally acting as a
GP Ib antagonist (1). In this study, we further characterized crotalin as a P-I metalloproteinase
with a molecular mass of 25 kDa as determined by gel filtration and two-dimensional
SDS-PAGE. Crotalin is a vWF binding and cleaving metalloproteinase. In addition, crotalin
cleaved platelet GP Ib as judged by flow cytometry and Western blotting. The multiple
effects of crotalin on vWF and platelet GP Ib antagonized ristocetin-, but not collagen
and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, suggesting that its effect is specific.
We also found that crotalin auto-proteolytically degraded to ~14 and ~10 kDa fragments
in the presence of SDS. Interestingly, both degradation fragments, intact and reduced
crotalin were able to bind vWF, suggesting the binding of crotalin to vWF is conformation-independent.
In conclusion, the results presented further explain the potent antithrombotic effect
of crotalin in vivo. In addition, the multiple effects of crotalin may be used as a tool to determine
the binding motifs that are responsible for the vWF-ECMs or vWF-GP Ib interaction.
Keywords
Metalloprotease - autoproteolysis - ristocetin - vWF - GP Ib - platelet aggregation