VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR (VWF)-CLEAVING PROTEASE

摘要

It is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving enzyme. A vWF - specific cleaving enzyme being capable of the 842Tyr-843Met bond of vWF and comprising as a partial sequence a polypeptide chain Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val preferably typified by a polypeptide chain which has a part of the N-termina l amino acid sequence of a matured protein Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu - Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val and shows a molecular weight of from 105 to 160 kDa in S DS- PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions as an embodiment mode. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving enzyme contribute to the possibility of supplementary therapy for diseases caused by the lack of the above enzyme such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.