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Thromb Haemost 1979; 41(04): 641-647
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1646820
Original Articles
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

The Shape of the Fibrinogen Molecule: Sausage or Banana?[*]

K Lederer
Institut für Chemische und Physikalische Technologie der Kunststoffe an der Montanuniversität Leoben, A-8700 Leoben, Österreich
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Publication History

Publication Date:
09 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

The experimental results and the interpretation of small angle X-ray scattering measurements by the author and Hammel (1975) and of small angle neutron scattering measurements by Marguerie and Stuhrmann (1976) on dilute solutions of bovine fibrinogen are compared. The potential of both methods to discern straight and bent cylindrical structures is demonstrated. The study arrives at the conclusion that the question whether the fibrinogen molecule resembles more a banana or a straight sausage cannot be safely decided by the available data. This justifies the previous suggestion of the author to imagine the fibrinogen molecule as a swollen sausage 450 Å long and 90 Å thick with conceivable flexibility, a molecular model of sufficient universality to include the banana-shaped model of Marguerie and Stuhrmann (1976) as a special case.

Presented at the Workshop »shape and structure of Fibrinogen«, Martinsried bei München, March 19, 1977


 

  • References

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