Thrombin is a serine protease enzyme that plays a crucial role in the blood coagulation process. It is derived from prothrombin, a glycoprotein produced in the liver. Thrombin’s primary function is to convert fibrinogen into fibrin, leading to blood clot formation. The recombinant form of thrombin, expressed in Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293 cells, is widely used in research and therapeutic applications due to its high purity and activity.
HEK 293 cells are immortalized human embryonic kidney cells that are commonly used for protein production. These cells are robust, fast-growing, and easy to maintain, making them ideal for producing recombinant proteins. The recombinant human thrombin produced in HEK 293 cells is a glycoprotein heterodimer, consisting of a heavy chain (31 kDa) and a light chain (6 kDa) joined by a disulfide bond .
Thrombin is composed of two chains: the A chain (light chain) and the B chain (heavy chain). The enzyme selectively cleaves the Arg-Gly bonds in fibrinogen to form fibrin and release fibrinopeptides A and B . The predominant form of thrombin in vivo is the zymogen prothrombin (factor II), which is activated by factor Xa in the presence of factor Va, calcium ions, and phospholipids .
Recombinant thrombin is used in various applications, including:
The use of recombinant thrombin expressed in HEK 293 cells offers several advantages: