The contact activation proteins: a structure/function overview.

In recent years, extensive knowledge has been obtained on the structure/function relationships of blood coagulation proteins. In this overview, we present recent developments on the structure/function relationships of the contact activation proteins: factor XII, high molecular weight kininogen, prekallikrein, and factor XI, with the emphasis on the localization of domains on these proteins that are involved in the interaction with activators, substrates and cofactors.