Fibrinogen variant BβD432A has normal polymerization but does not bind knob “B”

Abstract

Fibrinogen residue Bβ432Asp is part of hole “b” that interacts with knob “B,” whose sequence starts with Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide (GHRP). Because previous studies showed BβD432A has normal polymerization, we hypothesized that Bβ432Asp is not critical for knob “B” binding and that new knob-hole interactions would compensate for the loss of this Asp residue. To test this hypothesis, we solved the crystal structure of fragment D from BβD432A. Surprisingly, the structure (rfD-BβD432A+GH) showed the peptide GHRP was not bound to hole “b.” We then re-evaluated the polymerization of this variant by examining clot turbidity, clot structure, and the rate of FXIIIa cross-linking. The turbidity and the rate of γ-γ dimer formation for BβD432A were indistinguishable compared with normal fibrinogen. Scanning electron microscopy showed no significant differences between the clots of BβD432A and normal, but the thrombin-derived clots had thicker fibers than clots obtained from batroxobin, suggesting that cleavage of FpB is more important than “B:b” interactions. We conclude that hole “b” and “B:b” knob-hole binding per se have no influence on fibrin polymerization.