Covalent Heparin Cofactor II-Heparin and Heparin Cofactor II-Dermatan Sulfate Complexes CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL ANTICOAGULANTS*

Heparin cofactor II is a naturally occurring anticoagulant that acts by specifically inhibiting thrombin and is facilitated by the binding of glycosaminoglycans such as heparin and dermatan sulfate. In vivo, heparin cofactor II-glycosaminoglycan complexes dissociate, leaving the inhibitor less active in its ability to function as a component of the anticoagulation pathway. We have produced permanently activated heparin cofactor II molecules by …