Summary
We have shown that the isoelectric point of thrombin is high and that thrombin is
a cation at the pH of blood. On the other hand, prothrombin has a low isoelectric
point, being more anionic at the pH of blood. It was also found that thrombin adsorbs
readily to surfaces, especially negatively charged surfaces, like behenic acid surfaces
at pH 8.2. Furthermore, thrombin adsorbed onto behenic acid was active in the sense
that it coagulated fibrinogen.
The significance of the electric charge of the thrombin molecule in the mechanism
of atherosclerosis is discussed.