Characterization of an almost full-length cDNA coding for human blood coagulation factor X.

A human liver cDNA library was screened by colony hybridization with a bovine factor X cDNA probe. Three of the positive plasmids contained overlapping DNA that coded for most of human factor X mRNA. DNA sequence analysis of these three clones allowed the prediction of the complete amino acid sequence of plasma factor X. From these studies, we predict that human factor X is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain precursor in which the light and heavy chains of plasma factor X are linked by the tripeptide Arg-Lys-Arg. The cDNA sequence also predicts that human factor X is synthesized as a preproprotein having an amino-terminal leader peptide of at least 28 amino acid residues. A comparison of the amino acid sequences of human and bovine factor X shows high sequence identity around the calcium-binding regions and catalytic regions but low sequence identity around the nonfunctional regions.