Description
Analysis Note Protein determined by biuret
Biochem/physiol Actions Fibrinogen is an acute phase protein that is part of the coagulation cascade of proteins. The end result of the cascade is the production of thrombin that converts fibrinogen to fibrin. Thrombin rapidly proteolyzes fibrinogen, releasing fibrinopeptide A. The loss of this small peptide is not sufficient to make the resulting fibrin molecule insoluble, but it tends to form complexes with adjacent fibrin and fibrinogen molecules. Thrombin then cleaves a second peptide, fibrinopeptide B, from fibrin and the fibrin monomers formed then polymerize spontaneously to form an insoluble gel. The polymerized fibrin is held together by noncovalent and electrostatic forces and stabilized by the transamidating enzyme, factor XIIIa, that is produced by the action of thrombin on factor XIII. The insoluble fibrin aggregates （clots） and aggregated plaets then block the damaged blood vessel and prevent further bleeding. The amount of fibrinogen in the plasma can serve as a nonspecific indicator of whether or not an inflammatory process is present in the body. Fibrinogen from any mammalian source will be cleaved by thrombin from any mammalian source.
Physical form Contains ~10% sodium citrate and ~15% sodium chloride.

Properties
type Type I-S
mol wt α-chain mol wt 63.5 kDa
  β-chain mol wt 56 kDa
  γ chain mol wt 47 kDa （about 4% carbohydrate content）
  soluble dimer mol wt 340 kDa
storage temp. −20°C

Safety
Personal Protective Equipment Eyeshields, Gloves, type N95 （US）, type P1 （EN143） respirator filter
WGK Germany 3