Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Recently, we determined the complete amino acid sequence of bovine factor VII (Takeya, H. et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 14868-14877). In the course of the studies, we found an unknown serine derivative at position 52 in the first epidermal growth factor-like domain of factor VII. A pentapeptide isolated from the S-aminoethylated factor VII contained Ser-52, which could not be identified with a gas-phase sequencer. The same results were also obtained for a pentapeptide containing Ser-53 of factor IX and protein Z. Component sugar analysis revealed that the peptide contained 1 mol of glucose and 2 mol of xylose. This sugar component was also confirmed by high-resolution fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis of the pentapeptide. The trisaccharide was released from the peptides by means of beta-elimination reaction and its reducing end was identified as pyridylamino-glucose. These results indicate the existence of a (Xyl2)Glc-Ser structure in factors VII, IX and protein Z. Similar results were obtained for human factors VII, IX and protein Z. This is the first report of a (Xyl2)-Glc-Ser structure in glycoproteins to our knowledge. The presence of the unique trisaccharide structure in factors VII, IX and protein Z leads us to anticipate its biological role in the tissue factor pathway.