Antithrombin (AT) is a small protein molecule that inactivates several enzymes of the
coagulation system. Antithrombin is a
glycoprotein produced by the
liver and consists of 432 amino acids. It contains three
disulfide bonds and a total of four possible
glycosylation sites. a-Antithrombin is the dominant form of antithrombin found in
blood plasma and has an oligosaccharide occupying each of its four glycosylation sites. A single glycosylation site remains consistently un-occupied in the minor form of antithrombin, ß-antithrombin. Its activity is increased manyfold by the
anticoagulant drug
heparin, which enhances the binding of antithrombin to
factor II and
factor X.