Abstract
Fibrinogen is a complex multifunctional protein, which contains constitutive association
sites (γXL, D:D, Da, Db) as well as cryptic sites that become exposed as a result of fibrinogen
proteolysis by thrombin (EA, EB). Utilization of these sites by self-association (γXL or D:D) or by association with
exposed complementary fibrin sites (Da:EA, Db:EB) produces an orderly process of molecular assembly to form linear and branched fibrils,
concomitant with lateral fibril associations and factor XIIIa-mediated fibrin crosslinking
that together result in the mature fibrin network.
Keywords:
Factor XIII - crosslinking - fibrinogen - fibrin - polymerization
