Gene Alias
Drotrecogin-α
Background
Drotrecogin alfa is activated human protein C that is synthesized by recombinant DNA technology. It is a glycoprotein of approximately 55 kilodalton molecular weight, consisting of a heavy chain and a light chain linked by a disulfide bond. Activated protein C combines with protein S on platelet surfaces and then degrades factor Va and factor VIIIa, thereby reducing blood coagulability.