Background information
Hemostasis following tissue injury involves the deployment of essential plasma procoagulants (Prothrombin and Factors X, IX, V and VIII), which are involved in a blood coagulation cascade that leads to the formation of insoluble Fibrin clots and the promotion of platelet aggregation. Coagulation Factor X (Stuart Prower factor, FX, F10) is a vitamin K-dependent, single chain serine protease that is synthesized in the liver and circulates as an inactive precursor. The mature form of Factor X (Factor X A) is generated by Factor IX A- or Factor VII A-mediated cleavage at the tripeptide sequence, Arg-Lys-Arg, to yield a disulfide linked dimer. Together with the cofactor Factor V A and Ca2+ on the surface of platelets or endothelial cells, Factor X A coordinates as part of the prothrombinase complex, which mediates proteolysis of Prothrombin into active Thrombin. Mutations at the Factor X locus resulting in Factor X deficiencies can contribute to hemorrhagic diathesis.
