Protein S (also known as S-Protein) is a vitamin K-dependent plasma glycoprotein synthesized in the liver. In the circulation, Protein S exists in two forms: a free form and a complex form bound to complement protein C4b-binding protein (C4BP). In humans, protein S is encoded by the PROS1gene.[1][2]
Additionally, protein S has a peptide between the Gla domain and the EGF-like domain, that is cleaved by thrombin. The Gla and EGF-like domains stay connected after the cleavage by a disulfide bond. However, protein S loses its function as an APC cofactor following either this cleavage or binding C4BP.[6]
Function
The best characterized function of Protein S is its role in the anti coagulation pathway, where it functions as a cofactor to Protein C in the inactivation of Factors Va and VIIIa. Only the free form has cofactor activity.[7]
Protein S can bind to negatively charged phospholipids via the carboxylated Gla domain. This property allows Protein S to function in the removal of cells which are undergoing apoptosis. Apoptosis is a form of cell death that is used by the body to remove unwanted or damaged cells from tissues. Cells, which are apoptotic (i.e. in the process of apoptosis), no longer actively manage the distribution of phospholipids in their outer membrane and hence begin to display negatively charged phospholipids, such as phosphatidyl serine, on the cell surface. In healthy cells, an ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)-dependent enzyme removes these from the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. These negatively charged phospholipids are recognized by phagocytes such as macrophages. Protein S can bind to the negatively charged phospholipids and function as a bridging molecule between the apoptotic cell and the phagocyte. The bridging property of Protein S enhances the phagocytosis of the apoptotic cell, allowing it to be removed 'cleanly' without any symptoms of tissue damage such as inflammation occurring.
Protein S also binds to the nascent complement complex C5,6,7 and prevents this complex from inserting into a membrane. This function prevents the inappropriate activation of the complement system, which would cause uncontrolled systemic inflammation. In fact, Protein S was first discovered in 1977 in this role and it is named after the membrane site that it occupies in the complex.[8]
Pathology
Mutations in the PROS1 gene can lead to Protein S deficiency which is a rare blood disorder which can lead to an increased risk of thrombosis.[9][10]
↑Long GL, Marshall A, Gardner JC, Naylor SL (January 1988). "Genes for human vitamin K-dependent plasma proteins C and S are located on chromosomes 2 and 3, respectively". Somat. Cell Mol. Genet. 14 (1): 93–8. doi:10.1007/BF01535052. PMID2829367.
↑Stenflo J (1999). "Contributions of Gla and EGF-like domains to the function of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors". Critical reviews in eukaryotic gene expression. 9 (1): 59–88. PMID10200912.
↑Rosner W (Dec 1991). "Plasma steroid-binding proteins". Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America. 20 (4): 697–720. PMID1778174.
↑Podack, Eckhard; Kolb, William; Müller-Eberhard, Hans (1977). "The SC5b-7 complex: formation, isolation, properties, and subunit composition". J. Immunol. 119: 2024–2029. PMID410885.
↑Beauchamp NJ, Dykes AC, Parikh N, Campbell Tait R, Daly ME (June 2004). "The prevalence of, and molecular defects underlying, inherited protein S deficiency in the general population". Br. J. Haematol. 125 (5): 647–54. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.04961.x. PMID15147381.
↑García de Frutos P, Fuentes-Prior P, Hurtado B, Sala N (September 2007). "Molecular basis of protein S deficiency". Thromb. Haemost. 98 (3): 543–56. doi:10.1160/th07-03-0199. PMID17849042.
↑Heeb, M J; Kojima Y; Rosing J; Tans G; Griffin J H (Dec 1999). "C-terminal residues 621-635 of protein S are essential for binding to factor Va". J. Biol. Chem. UNITED STATES. 274 (51): 36187–92. doi:10.1074/jbc.274.51.36187. ISSN0021-9258. PMID10593904.
↑Heeb, M J; Mesters R M; Tans G; Rosing J; Griffin J H (Feb 1993). "Binding of protein S to factor Va associated with inhibition of prothrombinase that is independent of activated protein C". J. Biol. Chem. UNITED STATES. 268 (4): 2872–7. ISSN0021-9258. PMID8428962.
Further reading
Dahlbäck B (1991). "Protein S and C4b-binding protein: components involved in the regulation of the protein C anticoagulant system". Thromb. Haemost. 66 (1): 49–61. PMID1833851.
Rezende SM, Simmonds RE, Lane DA (2004). "Coagulation, inflammation, and apoptosis: different roles for protein S and the protein S-C4b binding protein complex". Blood. 103 (4): 1192–201. doi:10.1182/blood-2003-05-1551. PMID12907438.
Dahlbäck B (2007). "The tale of protein S and C4b-binding protein, a story of affection". Thromb. Haemost. 98 (1): 90–6. doi:10.1160/th07-04-0269. PMID17597997.
García de Frutos P, Fuentes-Prior P, Hurtado B, Sala N (2007). "Molecular basis of protein S deficiency". Thromb. Haemost. 98 (3): 543–56. doi:10.1160/th07-03-0199. PMID17849042.
Maillard C, Berruyer M, Serre CM, et al. (1992). "Protein-S, a vitamin K-dependent protein, is a bone matrix component synthesized and secreted by osteoblasts". Endocrinology. 130 (3): 1599–604. doi:10.1210/en.130.3.1599. PMID1531628.
Griffin JH, Gruber A, Fernández JA (1992). "Reevaluation of total, free, and bound protein S and C4b-binding protein levels in plasma anticoagulated with citrate or hirudin". Blood. 79 (12): 3203–11. PMID1534488.
Guglielmone HA, Vides MA (1992). "A novel functional assay of protein C in human plasma and its comparison with amidolytic and anticoagulant assays". Thromb. Haemost. 67 (1): 46–9. PMID1615482.
Bertina RM, Ploos van Amstel HK, van Wijngaarden A, et al. (1990). "Heerlen polymorphism of protein S, an immunologic polymorphism due to dimorphism of residue 460". Blood. 76 (3): 538–48. PMID2143091.
Schmidel DK, Tatro AV, Phelps LG, et al. (1991). "Organization of the human protein S genes". Biochemistry. 29 (34): 7845–52. doi:10.1021/bi00486a010. PMID2148110.
Ploos van Amstel HK, Reitsma PH, van der Logt CP, Bertina RM (1991). "Intron-exon organization of the active human protein S gene PS alpha and its pseudogene PS beta: duplication and silencing during primate evolution". Biochemistry. 29 (34): 7853–61. doi:10.1021/bi00486a011. PMID2148111.
Allaart CF, Aronson DC, Ruys T, et al. (1991). "Hereditary protein S deficiency in young adults with arterial occlusive disease". Thromb. Haemost. 64 (2): 206–10. PMID2148653.
Ohlin AK, Landes G, Bourdon P, et al. (1989). "Beta-hydroxyaspartic acid in the first epidermal growth factor-like domain of protein C. Its role in Ca2+ binding and biological activity". J. Biol. Chem. 263 (35): 19240–8. PMID2461936.
Schwarz HP, Heeb MJ, Lottenberg R, et al. (1989). "Familial protein S deficiency with a variant protein S molecule in plasma and platelets". Blood. 74 (1): 213–21. PMID2526663.
Ploos van Amstel HK, van der Zanden AL, Reitsma PH, Bertina RM (1987). "Human protein S cDNA encodes Phe-16 and Tyr 222 in consensus sequences for the post-translational processing". FEBS Lett. 222 (1): 186–90. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(87)80217-X. PMID2820795.
Engesser L, Broekmans AW, Briët E, et al. (1987). "Hereditary protein S deficiency: clinical manifestations". Ann. Intern. Med. 106 (5): 677–82. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-106-5-677. PMID2952034.
Watkins PC, Eddy R, Fukushima Y, et al. (1988). "The gene for protein S maps near the centromere of human chromosome 3". Blood. 71 (1): 238–41. PMID2961379.