Which protein acts as the precursor to the protein that forms the fibrous mesh in clots?

Which protein acts as the precursor to the protein that forms the fibrous mesh in clots?

• A. Fibrin
• B. Fibrinogen
• C. Collagen
• D. Elastin

Answer: (B)

In clot formation, the fibrous mesh is made from fibrin, which is produced by converting a soluble plasma protein into an insoluble form. The soluble precursor is fibrinogen, a liver-produced glycoprotein in blood. Thrombin removes fibrinopeptides from fibrinogen, creating fibrin monomers that polymerize into the fibrous mesh that stabilizes the clot. Collagen and elastin are structural proteins in connective tissue, not part of the clot’s fibrin mesh. So the precursor to the mesh-forming protein is fibrinogen.

In clot formation, the fibrous mesh is made from fibrin, which is produced by converting a soluble plasma protein into an insoluble form. The soluble precursor is fibrinogen, a liver-produced glycoprotein in blood. Thrombin removes fibrinopeptides from fibrinogen, creating fibrin monomers that polymerize into the fibrous mesh that stabilizes the clot. Collagen and elastin are structural proteins in connective tissue, not part of the clot’s fibrin mesh. So the precursor to the mesh-forming protein is fibrinogen.