Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Reaction Sequence of Blood Coagulation

Abstract

IN 1964 Macfarlane1 proposed a reaction mechanism for the interaction of blood coagulation factors, known as the enzyme cascade. In this hypothesis the blood coagulation factors as they occur in plasma are considered to be zymogens (except factor I; namely, fibrinogen). Coagulation is initiated by the conversion of one of these zymogens into an enzyme as a result of contact with anything other than intact vascular endothelium. This enzyme then acts on another clotting factor to form another active enzyme. All clotting factors thus interact in a given order until prothrombin (factor II) is converted into thrombin. Thrombin then brings about the actual coagulation by converting fibrinogen into fibrin.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Macfarlane, R. G., Nature, 202, 498 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cole, E. R., Koppel, J. L., and Olwin, J. H., Thromb. Diathes. Haemorrh., suppl. 14, 431 (1965).

  3. Esnouf, M. P., and Jobin, F., Thromb. Diathes. Haemorrh., suppl. 17, 103 (1965).

  4. Jobin, F., and Esnouf, M. P., Biochem. J., 102, 666 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Papahadjopoulos, D., and Hanahan, D. J., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 90, 436 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hemker, H. C., Esnouf, M. P., Hemker, P. W., Swart, A. C. W., and Macfarlane, R. G., Nature, 215, 248 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schiffman, S., Rapaport, S. I., and Chong, M. M. Y., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 123, 736 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Biggs, Rosemary, and Macfarlane, R. G., Thromb. Diathes. Haemorrh., suppl. 17, 23 (1965).

  9. Veltkamp, J., Thromb. Diathes. Haemorrh. (in the press, 1967).

  10. Hemker, H. C., and Loeliger, E. A., Thromb. Diathes. Haemorrh. (in the press, 1968).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

HEMKER, H., KAHN, M. Reaction Sequence of Blood Coagulation. Nature 215, 1201–1202 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2151201a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2151201a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing