Defective propeptide processing and abnormal activation underlie the molecular pathology of factor IX Troed-y-Rhiw

Affected members of a South Wales haemophilia B family (from Troed-y-Rhiw) were shown by Western blotting and immunoperoxidase detection to have a factor IX molecule of higher than normal molecular weight which also shows impaired calcium binding. Gene cloning and DNA sequencing revealed the same arginine to glutamine mutation at position -4 of the propeptide that has been found in two previously described factor IX variants which circulate with the propeptide still attached. The mutation also abolishes a HaeIII restriction enzyme recognition site. A potential carrier was shown to be normal both by Western blotting and DNA studies. The way in which the attached propeptide interferes with normal factor IX function was investigated by activation studies with crude normal and patient factor IX Troed-y-Rhiw preparations using Western blotting and detection with iodinated immunopurified polyclonal antifactor IX serum. We demonstrate that the -4 mutation appears to block cleavage between the Arg145-Ala146 peptide bond in the activation peptide, thus preventing the normal activation of factor IX Troed-y-Rhiw. A small amount of normally processed factor IX is produced, implying that the -4 mutation does not completely prevent propeptide cleavage, thus accounting for the low levels of factor IX activity measured in the plasma of affected family members.