Expression and Characterization of Recombinant Human Factor V and a Mutant Lacking a Major Portion of the Connecting Region

Human coagulation factor V is a protein cofactor that is an essential component of the prothrombinase complex. A full-length factor V cDNA has been subcloned into the mammalian expression vector pDX and used to transfect COS cells. Approximately 95 +/- 4% of the recombinant human factor V (rHFV) synthesized in COS cells is secreted into the culture medium. Forty-eight hours after transfection rHFV antigen levels in the conditioned medium were 70 +/- 15 ng/mL. Factor V activity determined by fibrometer assay increased approximately 5-fold from 0.027 +/- 0.012 to 0.124 +/- 0.044 unit/mL following activation by the factor V activating enzyme from Russell's viper venom (RVV-V). A chromogenic assay specific for factor Va indicated that recombinant factor V had 3.8 +/- 1.3% of the activity of the activated protein. The estimated specific activity of the recombinant factor Va was approximately 1800 +/- 500 units/mg, which is similar to the specific activity of purified plasma factor Va of 1700-2000 units/mg. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labeled rHFV revealed a single high molecular mass component (approximately 330 kDa). Treatment of rHFV with thrombin or RVV-V resulted in the formation of proteolytic products that were similar to those seen with plasma factor V. We have also expressed a mutant, rHFV-des-B811-1441, that lacks a large portion of the highly glycosylated connecting region that is present in factor V. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labeled rHFV-des-B811-1441 revealed a single-chain polypeptide with Mr approximately 230 kDa. This mutant constitutively expressed 38 +/- 7% of the activity of the RVV-V-activated protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)