Structure and interaction modes of thrombin.

Any vascular injury triggers the burst-like release of the trypsin-like serine proteinase alpha-thrombin. Thrombin, the main executioner of the coagulation cascade, exhibits procoagulant as well as anticoagulant and antifibrinolytic properties, very specifically interacting with a number of protein substrates, receptors, cofactors, inhibitors, carbohydrates, and modulators. A large number of crystal structures of alpha-thrombin have shown that the thrombin surface can be subdivided into several functional regions, which recognize different substrates, inhibitors, and mediators with high specificity.