GTC Biotherapeutics (fka GTCB)

[jessellivermore]

This is first time I have heard that Heparin requires the presence of AT3 to anticoagulate. Thinking about it, I guess why should a polysacaride polymer, ie heparin effect the coagultion cascade. Since we know on this site that proteases, which most of the coagulation factors are have an active end and a glycolised (sugar} end: and since altering the glycolised end effects the efficiency of the enzyme (AT3 in this case). Heparin probably acts on Glycolic end to increase the activity of AT3 and perhaps other coagulation inhibitors. In the pump runs the problem is mainly in the foreign surfaces of the tubing which deplete the AT3 which is required for the heparin effect.