Summary
Protein C is the central enzyme of the natural anticoagulant pathway and its activated
form APC (activated protein C) is able to proteolyse non-active as well as active
coagulation factors V and VIII. Proteolysis renders these cofactors inactive, resulting
in an attenuation of thrombin formation and overall down-regulation of coagulation.
Presences of the APC cofactor, protein S, thrombomodulin, endothelial protein C receptor
and a phospholipid surface are important for the expression of anticoagulant APC activity.
Notably, APC also has direct cytoprotective effects on cells: APC is able to protect
the endothelial barrier function and expresses anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic
activities. Exact molecular mechanisms have thus far not been completely described
but it has been shown that both the protease activated receptor 1 and EPCR are essential
for the cytoprotective activity of APC. Recently it was shown that also other receptors
like sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor 1, Cd11b/CD18 and tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like
and EGFlike domains 2 are likewise important for APC signalling. Mutagenesis studies
are being performed to map the various APC functions and interactions onto its 3D
structure and to dissect anticoagulant and cytoprotective properties. The results
of these studies have provided a wealth of structure-function information. With this
review we describe the state-of-the-art of the intricate structure-function relationships
of APC, a protein that harbours several important functions for the maintenance of
both humoral and tissue homeostasis.
Lessons from natural and engineered mutations
Keywords
Activated protein C - anticoagulation - cytoprotection - mutagenesis - structure-function