Possible contribution of solid surface for inactivation of thrombin.

Dextran sulfate and polybrene were immobilized on polypropylene tubes with plastic adhesive. Serum albumin was also immobilized on the tube by heat-denaturation. In the those tubes thrombin was protected from inactivation in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl remarkably. Cholesterol coated on the tube also protected the enzyme from inactivation. The results indicate that amounts of thrombin protected by these four coating materials corresponded to the amount of thrombin inactivated on surface of the tube. At least half of the thrombin was also inactivated within 20 sec at 37 degrees C in the presence of quartz sand, supporting a significant contribution of a solid surface to temperature-dependent inactivation of enzyme in dilute solution.