Studies on Soluble Fibrin in Plasma II. N-Terminal Analysis of a Modified Fraction I (Cohn) from Patient Plasmas

Abstract

N-terminal analysis of the clottable plasma proteins from patients having a positive ethanol test, and with signs of intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis, demonstrated N-terminal glycine, suggesting the presence of soluble fibrin in such plasmas. In addition to large amounts of N-terminal glycine, some patients showed increased amounts of several other N-terminal groups. The present findings suggest that the joint action of plasmin (or other proteases) and thrombin, on the clottable plasma proteins, may be responsible for the increased solubility of fibrin in plasma in disease.

Key Words:

• Blood coagulation
• fibrin
• fibrinogen
• fibrinolysis
• N-terminal analysis
• plasma proteins
• plasmin
• thrombin