Description
F2 (Coagulation Factor II), also known as thrombin, is a serine protease that in humans is encoded by the F2 gene. This gene for human prothrombin (F2) was assigned to chromosome 11p11-q12 by analysis of a panel of somatic cell hybrid DNAs and by in situ hybridization, using both cDNA and genomic probes. The activated thrombin enzyme plays an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis: it converts fibrinogen to fibrin for blood clot formation, stimulates platelet aggregation, and activates coagulation factors V, VIII (F8), and XIII (F13A1). Thrombin also inhibits coagulation by activating protein C