Purification and characterization of multiple forms of human plasma prekallikrein

Prekallikrein was purified 1,200-fold in 20% yield from human plasma by DEAE-cellulose, arginyl-triazinyl-aminododecyl-agarose, Cm-Sephadex C-50, and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. Isoelectric focusing of the purified proenzyme gave seven peaks, four major ones at pH 8.6, 8.8, 9.1, and 9.3; and three others at pH 7.9, 8.3, and 9.5. The same IEF profile was obtained from plasma of four individuals of three races and both sexes and from three plasma pools, and was not altered by using diisopropyl fluorophosphate, benzamidine, or EDTA during fractionation. Each major IEF form contained Mr = 88,000 (prekallikrein I) and Mr = 85,000 (prekallikrein II) species, in increasing ratios of I:II from about 20:1 in prekallikrein 8.6 (prekallikrein with pI 8.6) to 1:1 in prekallikrein 9.3. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the four zymogens after activation by Hageman factor fragment and reduction gave an Mr = 53,000 H-chain and two L-chains, LI (Mr = 40,000) and LII (Mr = 37,000). Scanning the gels gave LI:LII ratios of 19:1, 5:1, 2:1, and 1:1 for prekallikreins 8.6, 8.8, 9.1, and 9.3, respectively, corresponding to the prekallikrein I:II ratios. The H-chain in turn was split into Mr = 33,000 and 20,000 chains, presumably by autolysis, because the cleavage was prevented by soybean trypsin inhibitor. Each major kallikrein had a pI 0.1-0.2 lower than its zymogen, but the same LI:LII ratio. The four kallikreins were indistinguishable kinetically with human plasma high-molecular weight kininogen and 15 synthetic substrates, and in correcting the activated partial thromboplastin time of prekallikrein-deficient (Fletcher) plasma.