Structural and Chemical Organization of Teeth

normal coagulation tests of the plasma of patients with these three disease states, it must be assumed that an abnormal prothrombin molecule is the basis for the abnormal coagulation in these patients," (p. 83). ". . . the prothrombin molecule itself has subunits that have been separated and these are defined. It is essential to differentiate between autoprothrombins Ie, I, II, III, and autoprothrombin C. All except autoprothrombin I, have been isolated, and differences occur in molecular weight, solubility and other physicochemical properties," (p. 105). The fact that not all investigators are ready to abandon factors VII, IX and X as entities distinct from prothrombin indicates that available data are still not sufficient to reach a generally accepted and unequivocal decision. Meanwhile, one particularly interesting outcome of Seegers' approach is prethrombin. This fragment has a molecular weight a little more than half that of prothrombin. Yet it can still be converted to thrombin by trypsin and by other means. This book will probably find a place on the shelves of most specialists in the field.