Activation of duck prothrombin by factor Xa and thrombin.

Prothrombin isolated from duck sodium citrate plasma was activated in a system containing duck factor Xa and calcium ions. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that intermediates and the final product, thrombin, of Mr in the range 21 500-52 000 were present in the incubation mixture Serine and isoleucine were found to be the N-terminal amino acids of the intermediate form 1 and thrombin, respectively.