Direct analysis reveals an absence of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid in cancer procoagulant from human tissues

Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2009 Jul;20(5):315-20. doi: 10.1097/MBC.0b013e32831bc2c5.

Abstract

Additional carboxylation of glutamic acid by vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylase is a common posttranslational modification of many proteins, including some of blood clotting factors. Vitamin K-antagonists, such as warfarin, are often included in the therapy of malignant disease, decreasing the blood coagulation potential. Cancer procoagulant, a direct blood coagulation factor X activator from malignant tissue, is considered as a vitamin K-dependent protein, so it could serve as one of possible targets for the therapy with warfarin. However, there is still no experimental data demonstrating directly the presence of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) in a cancer procoagulant molecule. The presence of Gla in cancer procoagulant isolated from human amnion-chorion membranes and from human malignant melanoma WM 115 cell line was analyzed directly, using specific anti-Gla monoclonal antibodies. There was no detectable amount of Gla in cancer procoagulant isolated from fetal or malignant tissue. Cancer procoagulant from human tissues does not contain Gla-rich domain. The finding indicates that cancer procoagulant is rather a poor target for warfarin therapy of malignant disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Carboxyglutamic Acid / analysis*
  • 1-Carboxyglutamic Acid / immunology
  • Amnion / enzymology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Anticoagulants / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor / enzymology
  • Chorion / enzymology*
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Factor X / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / enzymology*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Neoplasm Proteins / chemistry*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / pharmacology
  • Pregnancy
  • Warfarin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Anticoagulants
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • 1-Carboxyglutamic Acid
  • Warfarin
  • Factor X
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • cancer procoagulant