The Naming of Protein C

1
The Naming of Protein C
Owen CA. A History of Blood Coagulation. Mayo
Foundation 2001.
2
The Naming of Protein S
In 1977, Dr Richard DiScipio from Dr Earl Davies
laboratory identified a new vitamin-K dependent
plasma protein. A footnote in the manuscript
reads as follows. The new protein was
arbitrarily called Protein S in reference to its
isolation and characterization in Seattle. When
its function is discovered, a more appropriate
name can be assigned to this plasma protein.
Dahlback B, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.
198683(12)4199-203.
Di Scipio RG, et al. Biochemistry
197716(4)698-706.
3
The Naming of Protein Z
It was a very good year, 1977! Prowse and Esnouf
identified an additional vitamin K-dependent
protein in bovine plasma and named it Protein Z.
It was found in the so-called D Fraction and was
the last to elute during anion exchange
chromatography. Protein Z serves as a cofactor
for the inhibition of activated Factor X by
Protein Z-dependent Protease Inhibitor (ZPI).
Similar to Protein S, it does not have a
proteolytic function.
Broze GJ. Thromb Haemost 2001868-13.