Blood, 1964, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 553-566.
© 1964 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Biologic Properties of Polynucleotides. II. The Anticoagulant Properties of Polynucleotides
STANLEY YACHNIN 1
1 Department of Medicine and the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital, (operated
by the University of Chicago for the United States Atomic Energy Commission). The University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
Polyinosinic and polyguanylic acids have been found to possess anticoagulant properties. Other synthetic homoribopolynucleotides, as well as naturally
occurring RNAs and DNAs are devoid of such properties. Polyinosinic acid
will prolong the silicone recalcification time, Quick one-stage prothrombin
time, and Russel Viper Venom clotting time of human plasma, but will not
affect the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin by thrombin. Polyinosinic acid
causes a delay in the rate of thrombin generation, and also inhibits thromboplastin generation. In the latter system polyguanylic acid is only 
as effective
as polyinosinic acid. The anticoagulant properties of polyinosinic acid can be
reduced or abolished by (1) high [Ca++] (2) hybrid helix formation with
polyadenylic or polycytidylic acid, and (3) protamine sulphate. Mixed copolymers of inosinic and uridylic acids, or guanylic and uridylic acids having high
(> 60 per cent) guanylic or inosinic acid contents possess graded anticoagulant properties. The anticoagulant properties of polynucleotides depend upon
base composition and secondary structure.
Submitted on December 17, 1963
Accepted on March 23, 1964
