Question:

Which of the following clotting factors in a patient on warfarin therapy would have decreased gamma-carboxyglutamate residues?

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Only the 2, 7, 9, 10 (and proteins C, S, Z) group is undercarboxylated by warfarin.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Factor 2
  • Factor 11
  • Tissue factor
  • Factor 5
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall warfarin's mechanism. Warfarin blocks vitamin K epoxide reductase, lowering reduced vitamin K. Vitamin K is the cofactor for gamma-glutamyl carboxylase, the enzyme that adds gamma-carboxyglutamate (Gla) residues to certain clotting factors. These Gla residues let the factors bind calcium and phospholipid surfaces.
Step 2: List the vitamin K-dependent factors. They are factors 2, 7, 9, and 10, plus proteins C, S, and Z. On warfarin, these factors are made but undercarboxylated, so they have fewer functional gamma-carboxyglutamate residues.
Step 3: Match the options. Only Factor 2 (prothrombin) in the list is vitamin K-dependent, so option (a) is correct. Factor 11 and Factor 5 are not vitamin K-dependent, and tissue factor is a cell-surface protein, not a vitamin K-dependent Gla protein.
Ref: Standard biochemistry of vitamin K-dependent carboxylation.
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