von Willebrand Factor (and VIII Free)

Multimeric Structure Of Von Willebrand Factor
The formation of a 1.8 MDa von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimer with bound factor VIII is illustrated. Each vWF monomer (Mr=260,000) contains a factor VIII binding site near the NH2-terminal end of the molecule. The monomers are joined end-to-end (NH2 to NH2 and COOH to COOH) by disulfide bonds to form large multimers. The mature multimers can bind one factor VIII molecule per monomeric subunit.

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  • Human von Willebrand Factor

    HCVWF-0190

    $391.00 – $3,440.00

    SKU: HCVWF-0190 Category:
    Price:$3,440.00/1 mg, $391.00/100 µg
    Sample Data Sheet  |  Safety Data Sheet
    Size 1 mg, 100 µg
    Formulation 25 mM NaCitrate, 100 mM NaCl, 100 mM Glycine, pH 6.8
    Storage -80°C
    Shelf Life 12 months
    Purity >95% by SDS-PAGE
    Activity Determination N/A

  • Human von Willebrand Factor - VIII Free

    HCVWF-0191

    $467.00 – $4,110.00

    SKU: HCVWF-0191 Category:
    Price:$4,110.00/1 mg, $467.00/100 µg
    Safety Data Sheet
    Size 1 mg, 100 µg
    Formulation 25 mM NaCitrate, 100 mM NaCl, 100 mM Glycine, pH 6.8
    Storage -80°C
    Shelf Life 12 months
    Purity >95% by SDS-PAGE
    Activity Determination N/A

Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a multimeric plasma glycoprotein that is required for normal hemostatic platelet plug formation (1-8). The mature plasma protein is composed of apparently identical subunits (Mr=260,000) which are held together by disulfide bonds. The circulating vWF molecule ranges in size from dimers (Mr=520,000) to extremely large multimers (Mr>10,000,000). During normal hemostasis, the larger multimers of vWF are responsible for facilitating platelet plug formation by forming a bridge between platelet glycoprotein IB and exposed collagen in the subendothelium (9-14). Either a lack of vWF protein or the presence of abnormalities which result in decreased polymerization may cause a loss of biological activity which is characteristic of von Willebrand’s disease.

In addition to its role in platelet plug formation, vWF is also responsible for the binding and transport of factor VIII (antihemophilic factor) in plasma (15). It appears that this latter event is responsible for both the stability and effective delivery of functional factor VIII. Studies indicate that factor VIII binds to the NH2-terminal portion of the mature vWF subunit with a stoichiometry of one factor VIII molecule per vWF monomer (16,17).

The single chain vWF monomer contains a large number of cysteine residues at both the NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal ends, which are involved in the multimer formation. Carbohydrate analyses indicate that nearly 15% of the mass of vWF is contributed by carbohydrate (18). It appears that the carbohydrate serves to protect vWF from proteolysis, but is not necessary for functional activity or multimer formation.

vWF is prepared from citrated human plasma using a combination of the procedures described by Thorell (19), and Lollar (20). A factor VIII “free” vWF preparation, further purified to ensure removal of factor VIII procoagulant activity (antigen still present), is also available. The preparations are >95% pure as judged by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, and consist of large multimers as determined by electrophoresis in SDS/agarose gels. The protein is shipped frozen in 0.025M sodium citrate, 0.1M glycine, 0.1M NaCl, pH 6.8, for storage at -70°C.

Sample gel image
GelNovex 4-12% Bis-Tris
LoadHuman von Willebrand Factor, 1 µg per lane
BufferMOPS
StandardSeeBluePlus 2; Myosin (191 kDa), Phosphorylase B (97 kDa), BSA (64 kDa), Glutamic Dehydrogenase (51 kDa), Alcohol Dehydrogenase (39 kDa), Carbonic Anhydrase (28 kDa), Myoglobin Red (19 kDa), Lysozyme (14 kDa)
Localization/th>Plasma and subendothelium
Mode of actionfacilitates platelet plug formation by forming a bridge between platelet glycoprotein IB and exposed collagen in the subendothelium; also binds and transports factor VIII
Molecular weight260,000 to >10,000,000 (1-8)
Isoelectric point5.7-5.9 (21)
Extinction coefficientNot Applicable; concentration determined by total protein assay.
Concentration in plasma10 micrograms/mL (21)
Structuremultimeric protein composed of identical 260,000 molecular weight subunits
Percent carbohydrateapproximately 15% (18)
  1. Hoyer, L.W., Blood, 58, 1 (1981).
  2. Ruggeri, Z.M. and Zimmerman, T.S., J. Clin. Invest., 65, 1318 (1980).
  3. Zimmerman, T.S., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 72, 5121 (1975).
  4. Hoyer, L.W. and Shainoff, J.R., Blood, 55, 1056 (1980).
  5. Counts, R.B., et al., J. Clin. Invest., 62, 702 (1979).
  6. Perret, B.A., et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 578, 164 (1979).
  7. Weinstein, M. and Deykin, D., Blood, 53, 1095 (1979).
  8. Meyer, D., et al., J. Lab. Clin. Invest., 95, 590 (1980).
  9. Okumura, T. and Jameison, G.A., Thromb. Res., 8, 701 (1976).
  10. Nachman, R.L., et al., J. Clin. Invest., 59, (1977).
  11. Jenkins, C.S.P., et al., J. Clin. Invest., 57, 112 (1976).
  12. Santoro, S.A., Thromb. Res., 21, 689 (1981).
  13. Santoro, S.A. and Cowan, J.F., Collagen Relat. Res., 2, 31 (1982).
  14. Morton, L.F., et al., Thromb. Res., 32, 545 (1983).
  15. Tuddenham, E.G.D., et al., Br. J. Haematol., 52, 259 (1982).
  16. Foster, P.A., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 262, 8443 (1987).
  17. Parker, C.G. and Lollar, P., J. Biol. Chem., 262, 17572 (1987).
  18. Federici, A.B., et al., J. Clin. Invest., 74, 2049 (1984).
  19. Thorell, L. and Blomback, B., Thromb. Res., 35, 431 (1984).
  20. Lollar, P., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 263, 10451 (1988).
  21. Furlan, M., Human Protein Data (A. Haeberli, ed.) © VCH Verlagsges, mbH, Weinheim
  1. Garcia, A., et al., Blood. 2005 November 15; 106(10): 3410–3414. (fibrinogen receptor activation)
  2. Liu, J., et al., Blood. 2005 October 15; 106(8): 2750–2756. (VWF-induced signaling)
  3. Pergolizzi, R., Blood. 2006 August 1; 108(3): 862–869. (mouse vWF disease)

This publication list is not all encompassing, and is only meant to provide limited examples of how Prolytix products are used. We encourage you to search the literature for other examples pertinent to your experimentation, and to contact us with any technical questions.

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