Structural Conformation and the Binding of Factor VIII R2159C (FVIII-Ise) Mutated in the C1 Domain to Phospholipid.

Abstract

Background:  We previously identified a factor (F)VIII molecular defect associated with an R2159C mutation in the C1 domain (named "FVIII-Ise") together with undetectable FVIII antigen (FVIII:Ag) levels measured by two-site sandwich ELISA using an anti-C2 domain alloantibody (alloAb). The patient had clinically mild hemophilia A, and his reduced FVIII:C correlated with FVIII:Ag measured by ELISA using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with A2 and A2/B domain epitopes, suggesting that the R2159C mutation modified C2 domain antigenicity.

Aim:  To investigate functional and structural characteristics of the FVIII-R2159C mutant.

Methods and results:  ELISAs using a previous anti-C2 domain alloAb confirmed that the antigen level of recombinant FVIII-R2159C mutant prepared in BHK cells was 56% lower relative to wild-type (WT), consistent with our earlier reports. This anti-C2 domain alloAb competitively inhibited FVIII and anti-C1 domain mAb binding, indicating the involvement of specificity for C1 and C2 epitopes. The K _m for FVIII-R2159C with FIXa or FX in the tenase complex was similar to that of FVIII-WT. Thrombin- and FXa-catalyzed cleavage reactions of FVIII-R2159C were similar to those of WT. The K _d for FVIII-R2159C binding to phospholipids was moderately greater than for FVIII-WT, however, while there were no significant differences in von Willebrand factor binding. In silico molecular dynamic simulation analyses revealed subtle differences between FVIII-WT and FVIII-R2159C.

Conclusion:  The FVIII-R2159C mutation was not different from FVIII-WT in interactions with FIXa, FX, and thrombin, but reduced binding potential to phospholipids and to an anti-C1/C2 domain alloAb was evident apparently due to subtle changes in conformational structure.