[Effect of partial reduction of disulfide bonds on the enzymatic activity of thrombin].

It was demonstrated that partial reduction of disulfide bonds in thrombin by dithiothreitol in the absence of denaturating agents leads to a decrease of enzymatic activity with respect to fibrinogen coagulation and tosylarginine methyl ester hydrolysis. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and determination of the number of SH-groups liberated in the course of reduction suggest that the observed inactivation is primarily due to the disruption of the S-S-bridge between the A- and B-chains of thrombin.