The heparin-accelerated neutralisation of bovine alpha and beta thrombins by antithrombin III

The heparin-accelerated neutralisation of bovine alpha and beta thrombins has been examined using a peptide substrate H-D-phenylalanyl-pipecolyl-arginine-paranitroanilide-HCl to measure thrombin amidase activity. Alpha and beta thrombins were both neutralised by antithrombin III and this neutralisation was further accelerated by the presence of small amounts of heparin. Low and high molecular weight heparin and heparins fractionated by their affinity for antithrombin III were all able to accelerate the neutralisation of alpha and beta thrombin. This work is therefore unable to confirm reports that alpha and beta thrombins have different heparin sensitivities.