Background Information
Factor X is a vitamin K-dependent protein zymogen which is synthesized in the liver and circulates in plasma as a two chain molecule linked by a disulfide bond. Prior to secretion into plasma, post-translational modifications produce 11 gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (gla) residues and a single b-hydroxyaspartic acid residue, which are located within the NH2-terminal light chain. The light chain also contains two epidermal growth factor (EGF) homology domains. The COOH-terminal heavy chain of factor X contains most of the carbohydrate moieties, as well as the latent serine protease domain. The activation of factor X is catalyzed by either the intrinsic factor Xase complex (factor IXa, factor VIIIa, cellular surface and calcium ions) or the extrinsic factor Xase complex (factor VIIa, tissue factor, cellular surface and calcium ions).
