A molecular model of the serine protease domain of activated protein C: application to the study of missense mutations causing protein C deficiency.

A molecular model of the serine protease domain of protein C was constructed by standard comparative methods. Individual missense mutations were inserted into the model and plausible explanations for their interference with protein C structure/function were derived through consideration of location, steric effects and protein stability. A hydrophilic cluster of many Arg and Lys residues, found adjacent to the active site cleft, is proposed to be involved in thrombomodulin and/or protein S interactions. Analysis of comparative binding studies also suggested the presence of an extended substrate binding pocket in the model.