Crystal structure of elongation factor 4 bound to a clockwise ratcheted ribosome

Abstract

Better blood thinner, without bleeding Blood thinners prevent heart attacks and strokes by making it harder for blood to clot, but these drugs can put patients at risk of dangerous bleeding. Now Moeckle et al. describe an enzyme that can prevent clots without this perilous side effect. They engineered the enzyme apyrase to remove the pro-clotting molecule ADP from the blood quickly. In dogs and mice with heart attacks, apyrase stopped blood cells from aggregating, the first step in forming a clot. At the highest dose, the animals suffered less heart damage and did not bleed excessively. In comparison, clopidogrel, a blood thinner used currently in patients, protected the heart less well and did cause excessive bleeding. Science , this issue p. 684