Calcium-dependent changes in properties of human prothrombin: a study using high-performance size-exclusion chromatography and gel-permeation chromatography.

High-performance size-exclusion chromatography using a TSK 3000 SW column and aqueous gel filtration with Sephacryl S-200 SF have been used to characterize the effects of calcium ions on the hydrodynamic properties of human prothrombin and prethrombin 1. The results suggest that the effective hydrodynamic radius of prothrombin is less in the presence than in the absence of calcium ions. In addition, when using the TSK-3000 SW column, Ca2+-dependent formation of a hydrophobic site in the fragment 1 region of prothrombin results in an apparent further decrease in hydrodynamic radius.