ACTIVATION AND INACTIVATION OF PURIFIED HUMAN FACTOR VIII BY THROMBIN
Highly purified human factor VIII was activated by human thrombin. The factor VIII material used showed variation in molecular weight and was separated into one heterogeneous form with a molecular weight ranging from 280 to 185 kDa and into one homogeneous 170 kDaform. Incubation of the (280-185) kDa form of factor VIII with thrombin resulted in proteolytic degradation of the heavy chain and formation of a 90 kDa peptide chain. This chain was further split intoone 52 kDa and one 43 kDa peptide chain, as was the 90 kDa chain pesent in the 170 kDa form of factor VIII. The light chain of 80 kDa was split into a 70 kDa peptide chain. The change in peptide composition was followed by scanning and integration of SDS-PAGE gels on samples from the activation of both forms of factor VIII with thrombin. No strict relationship between factor VIII activity and degradation or formation of a new peptide chain was seen.When factor VIII bound to von Willebrand factor matrix was incubated with thrombin, activated factor VIII was released. The released material consisted mainly of a 90 kDa and a 70 kDa peptide chain, but the presence of the 52 and 43 kDa peptide chains increased with the passage of time. The concentration of Ca2+ ions was of great importance for the degree and rate of activation. A high concentration of CaCl2 resulted in a lower degree of activation but also slower inactivation of the factor Villa formed. However, no permanent stabilization of factor Villa was noted at either low or high concentrations of CaCl2.Inhibition or removal of thrombin from the factor VIII system, by the use of protease inhibitors or matrix bound thrombin, did not prevent the loss of factor VIII activity following the activation. Thepeptide composition was stabilized, however, when thrombin was removed. This indicates that the inactivation of factor Villa is due to an intramolecular change in the factor VIII molecule.