Effects of acetylthrombin on protein C activation and fibrinogen clotting

Thrombin was acetylated by treatment with acetic anhydride, and the potency for protein C activation and the fibrinogen clotting activity of the resultant acetylthrombin were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The acetylthrombin retained an amidolytic activity to the synthetic substrate, S-2238, and reduced both of the potency for protein C activation and the clotting activity. The potency for protein C activation (0.47% of that of thrombin) was retained more than the clotting activity (0.015% of that of thrombin). The enzymatic activities of acetylthrombin were in inverse proportion to the molecular weights of the substrates, S-2238, protein C, and fibrinogen. Similarly, the inhibitory activity on acetylthrombin was dependent on the molecular weights of the inhibitors, Thromstop, I-2581, hirudin, and antithrombin-III. When acetylthrombin (5000 units/kg body weight) was infused into rabbits, the activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged to the same extent as that following infusion of thrombin (125 units/kg), but the fibrinogen level was not decreased in contrast to the large decrease following infusion of thrombin. It is suggested that acetylthrombin activates protein C without clotting fibrinogen in vivo.