Factor XIII catalyzed formation of fibrinogen-fibronectin oligomers--a thiol enhanced process

Fibrinogen and plasma fibronectin were shown to interact in the presence of factor XIIIa. The reaction was enhanced by dithiothreitol and was accompanied by an increase in the turbidity of the solution and the formation of particulate matter and gel structures. At a constant concentration of fibrinogen the turbidity increase was dependent on the fibronectin concentration and at a constant concentration of fibronectin, on the fibrinogen concentration. Kinetic experiments showed that an initial step in the reaction between fibrinogen and fibronectin was the formation of a transient intermediate containing 1 mole of fibrinogen and 1 mole of fibronectin. Transient intermediates of larger molecular weight and containing both fibrinogen and fibronectin were also formed. These heterooligomers eventually reached huge molecular sizes and at early times formed particulate matter that sedimented on centrifugation. The predominant molecular species formed in an equimolar mixture of fibrinogen and fibronectin were heteropolymers. Small amounts of homopolymers composed of fibrinogen and possibly also homopolymers of fibronectin were detected. The results are discussed in terms of reaction mechanism and potential importance of this novel oligomerization pathway in haemostasis, thrombosis and tissue repair.