A glycoprotein synthesized in the liver which contains 10 Gla residues that are dependent on vitamin K for biosynthesis. The zymogen, FVII, is converted to a serine protease (FVIIa) by limited proteolysis. In the presence of Tissue Factor and calcium, FVIIa converts FX to FXa in the initiation phase of blood coagulation. Similarly FVIIa in the presence of tissue factor and calcium converts FIX to FIXa allowing for additional Thrombin generation (amplification phase). FVII participates in the extrinsic pathway of coagulation (Tissue Factor pathway). The slide show entitled Coagulation Pathways (All Components) shows how FVII relates to the other coagulation factors. See also the slide shows entitled Tissue Factor Pathway (Extrinsic) with Common Pathway (PT).
