Previous studies from our laboratory (J. Biol. Chem. 260:10714,1985; J. Clin. Invest. 78:1631,1986) provide evidence that a monoclonal antibody (3C1) directed against the heavy chain region of factor XIa (FXIa) recognizes an epitope near a substrate binding site for FIX and a binding site for high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK). The present studies were carried out to determine whether these two sites are identical or different. Another heavy-chain-specific murine monoclonal antibody (5F7) was found to recognize an epitope distinct from that recognized by 3C1 since 3C1 did not compete with 5F7 for binding to FXI in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Antibody 3C1 was a competitive inhibitor of F-XIa-catalyzed F-IX activation, assayed by the release of a 3H-labeled activation peptide from FIX, whereas 5F7 had no effect on F—IX activation by FXIa. In contrast, 5F7 (which also inhibited F-XIIa-catalyzed F-XI activation in the presence of HMWK and kaolin) completely blocked FXI binding to immobilized HMWK at concentrations 1,000-fold lower than 3C1. Finally, HMWK had no effect on F-IX activation by FXIa. We therefore conclude that two separate and distinct domains are present in the heavy-chain region of FXI, one of which is a substrate binding site for FIX and the other a binding site for HMWK. A 15,000 Mr peptide containing the HMWK binding site was isolated using cyanogen bromide digests of factor XI which were bound to and eluted from a ,5F7 antibody affinity column and further purified using high performance liquid chromatography. Gas phase sequencing studies are in progress to characterize this peptide and place its sequence within the known structure of the heavy chain of FXIa. In conclusion, our antibodies have defined two domains within the heavy chain region of FXI: one defined by 5F7 is near the HMWK binding site, whereas the other, recognized by 3C1, is a substrate binding site for FIX. Finally, a peptide domain in the heavy chain of FXI that compriaes the HMWK binding site has been identified and isolated.