von Willebrand Factor (IMAGE)

WashU Medicine

von Willebrand Factor

Caption

The building blocks of von Willebrand Factor remain separate at the slightly basic pH of 7.4 (left). In a more acidic environment (right), the VWF building blocks self-assemble into long chains and form the protein's signature helical tubules. This shape is vital to blood clotting. When VWF in the blood finds sites of injury, its helical tube unfurls to catch platelets and form blood clots.

Credit

J. Evan Sadler, M.D., Ph.D.

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