Binding of thrombin to functionally defective platelets: a hypothesis on the nature of the thrombin receptor.

The initial step in the interaction of thrombin with human platelets is binding of thrombin to specific structures on the platelet surface. Data are presented which show that platelets from thrombasthenic patients bind thrombin similar to controls. In contrast, platelets from a patient with Bernard-Soulier syndrome had lower thrombin binding capacity. It is suggested that glycoprotein one (GP-I) on the platelet surface might be the receptor for thrombin.