Summary
Antithrombin III (AT III) complexes were isolated from human serum by affinity chromatography
and gel filtration. In the first step of the preparation, using heparin-agarose chromatography,
we observed that the complexed form of AT III bound less strongly to the gel than
the free form and that about half of the AT III was free. With further purification
a 2.5 × 105 molecular weight complex was isolated. Using 125I labelled human thrombin, this complex was radioactive indicating the presence of
thrombin. Only in a synthetic thrombin-AT III system was a 9 × 104 molecular weight complex detected, but not in serum. These facts suggest that in
serum AT III complexes may exist in a polymeric form. Also, an AT III antigen derived
from the original AT III molecule, but not complexed, was isolated which may be a
degradation product.
Abbreviations used: AT-III, antithrombin III. Hepes, N-2-Hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-Ethanesulphonic
acid.
