Evidence for a Second Type of Fibril Branch Point in Fibrin Polymer Networks, the Trimolecular Junction

Authors

Michael W. Mosesson, Blood Center of WisconsinFollow
James P. DiOrio, Sinai Samaritan Medical CenterFollow
Kevin R. Siebenlist, Marquette UniversityFollow
Joseph S. Wall, Sinai Samaritan Medical CenterFollow
James F. Hainfeld, University of Wisconsin Medical SchoolFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-1993

Publisher

American Society of Hematology

Source Publication

Blood

Source ISSN

0006-4971

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1182/blood.V82.5.1517.1517

Abstract

Fibrin molecules polymerize to double-stranded fibrils by intermolecular end-to-middle domain pairing of complementary polymerization sites, accompanied by fibril branching to form a clot network. Mass/length measurements on scanning transmission electron microscopic images of fibrils comprising branch points showed two types of junctions. Tetramolecular junctions occur when two fibrils converge, creating a third branch with twice the mass/length of its constituents. Newly recognized trimolecular junctions have three fibril branches of equal mass/length, and occur when an extraneous fibrin molecule initiates branching in a propagating fibril by bridging across two unpaired complementary polymerization sites. When trimolecular junctions predominate, clots exhibit nearly perfect elasticity.

Comments

Accepted version. Blood, Vol. 83, No. 5 (September 1, 1993): 1517-1521. DOI. © 1993 American Society of Hematology. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Mosesson, Michael W.; DiOrio, James P.; Siebenlist, Kevin R.; Wall, Joseph S.; and Hainfeld, James F., "Evidence for a Second Type of Fibril Branch Point in Fibrin Polymer Networks, the Trimolecular Junction" (1993). Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 233.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/biomedsci_fac/233