... pathways is to produce a specific factor that then acts as a catalyst in the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. Then the thrombin cleaves fibrinogen to produce fibrin, which then leads to a blood clot. Smith et al (2005) explains that thrombin promotes clot formation by activating platelet aggregation, stimulating the release of Factor VIII from vWF, and cleaving Factor XIII to Factor XIIIa. Some of the coagulation factors have a series of glutamate residues that are vitamin K dependent. Carboxylation of these glutamate residues are essential in the proper functioning of the clotting factors. These reactions form a carboxyglutamate residue when the glutamate residues are carboxylated in presence of O2, CO2 and carboxylase vitamin; however vitamin K is essential in this reaction. According to Smith (2000) vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables and is also produced by the gut bacteria. The reaction that carboxylates the glutamate residues is ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now