Document Detail


Elongational flow induces the unfolding of von Willebrand factor at physiological flow rates.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20441731     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The unfolding of von Willebrand Factor (vWF), one of the largest multimeric proteins in our body, has been shown to be a crucial step in the process of blood clotting. Here we show that elongational flows, which appear during vasoconstriction or stenosis, are the primary activation mechanisms of vWF, and unfold the multimeric protein at flow rates that are two orders-of -magnitude below those corresponding to pure shear. The findings presented here complement the current understanding of blood clotting from the molecular to the physiological level, and provide new physical insights into the connection between clotting anomalies, such as Heyde's syndrome and stenosis. These findings also represent a new paradigm in the function and activation of vWF.
Authors:
Charles E Sing; Alfredo Alexander-Katz
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Biophysical journal     Volume:  98     ISSN:  1542-0086     ISO Abbreviation:  Biophys. J.     Publication Date:  2010 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-05-05     Completed Date:  2010-07-29     Revised Date:  2011-07-28    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370626     Medline TA:  Biophys J     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  L35-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright (c) 2010 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Constriction, Pathologic / metabolism
Kinetics
Models, Biological
Protein Denaturation
Vasoconstriction
von Willebrand Factor / chemistry*,  metabolism*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/von Willebrand Factor
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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