Protein hydration during generation of coagulation factor Xa in aqueous phase and on phospholipid membranes

The energetic contribution of protein solvation-desolvation reactions to generation of coagulation activated factor X (FXa) by the extrinsic pathway protease complex was determined using the technique of osmotic stress. The initial rate of FXa generation by limited proteolysis of human FX was measured in reaction mixtures with human tissue factor (TF) and factor VIIa (FVIIa) assembled either in aqueous phase or on phospholipid membranes. Osmotic stress was induced on the surface of reacting proteins with either polyethylene glycol, or dextran of 6000 and 500,000 molecular weight, respectively. These inert polymers are sterically excluded from the solvation shells of proteins and thus increase the water activity in the excluded spaces. The volume of water transferred either to or from the excluded spaces during formation of reaction intermediates was calculated from the ratio of change in free energy of activation with change in osmotic pressure, delta G*/delta II. For aqueous phase-assembled reactions, delta G* values decreased with delta II at ratios of -2.36 +/- 0.38 and -2.26 +/- 0.26 kcal/mol/atm for polyethylene glycol and dextran, respectively. These values correspond to 5488 +/- 883 and 5255 +/- 604 mol of water transferred from the reacting protein surfaces per mol of FXa generated. At a physiologic osmotic pressure of 7 atm the work of transfer corresponded to 16 kcal/mol, approximately 70% of delta G*. The observed osmotic effects were independent of the viscosity, temperature, and ionic strength of solutions. For reactions assembled on phospholipid membranes, delta G* increased with delta II at a ratio of 0.35 +/- 0.05 kcal/mol/atm, corresponding to 814 +/- 116 mol of water tansferred from bulk solution to protein surfaces. At physiologic osmotic pressure the work of transfer is 2.45 kcal/mol, approximately 12% of delta G*. Results indicate that for factor Xa generation in aqueous phase the work of desolvation is a significant component of the free energy of activation. Results also suggest that phospholipid membranes catalyze the reaction by reducing the desolvation component of the free energy of activation.