Association of heparin non-covalently with bovine factor Xa was analyzed by Superose-12 gel chromatography. In 0.05 M NaCl, 0.02 M Tris, pH 7.5, DEGR-Xa (factor Xa inactivated by dans-Glu-Gly-Arg-CH2Cl) was eluted as a single, sharp peak at Ve/Vt=0-65 (elution volume/internal volume). Mixtures of heparin and DEGR-Xa were eluted as two partially resolved peaks of protein at Ve/Vt=0.59 and 0.65. The fraction of DEGFUXa in the leading peak was directly proportional to [heparin], and at 100 yM heparin the leading peak contained more than half the total protein. When 0.02 M HEPES was substituted for Tris a single, slightly broadened peak at Ve/Vt=0.64 was obtained on chromatography of 100 μM heparin and 10 μM DEGR-Xa. In a buffer system comprising 0.02 M Tris, 0.02 M HEPES, 0.03 M NaCl, pH 7.5, two peaks were eluted at Ve/Vt=0.59 and 0.65. Therefore, Tris increases the affinity of DEGR-Xa for heparin.Solutions buffered with Tris or HEPES were compared for effects on the kinetics of inhibition of factor Xa by antithrombin III-heparin. Reaction mixtures containing 1 nM factor Xa, 30 nM heparin and 600 nM antithrombin III were assayed with S-2222 at intervals of 2-10 sec. Reagent concentrations were chosen (a) to assure pseudo-first-order kinetics, (b) to have [heparin]<< Kq for factor Xa-heparin, and (c) to bind virtually all available heparin to antithrombin III. The same second-order rate constant, Kobs=2.5×107 M−1s−1, was obtained in both buffer systems. We conclude that the association of factor Xa with heparin observed directly by gel chromatography does not contribute to the reaction rate of factor Xa with antithrombin III-heparin.
Effect of a heparan sulphate with high affinity for antithrombin III upon inactivation of thrombin and coagulation factor Xa