Tag: Vkdps

The human body stores very little vitamin K, necessitating an efficient recycling process to maintain its biological activity. This recycling is central to what it means to be vitamin K-dependent, enabling the activation of crucial proteins responsible for vital physiological functions far beyond simple blood clotting.

Over 50 years ago, scientists discovered that the vitamin K-dependent protein osteocalcin is essential for binding calcium within bones. The primary process requiring vitamin K is gamma-carboxylation, a critical post-translational modification that activates key proteins involved in blood coagulation and bone mineralization. Without sufficient vitamin K, these proteins cannot function properly, leading to severe health complications.