LAUSR

Inorganic polyphosphates are linear polymers of monophosphate residues (Pi) that exist as short chains (Pi30–120) in platelet d-granules and as long chains in bacteria.1 A higher chain length increases the activity of these anionic polymers to accelerate factor XIIa-mediated factor XI activation, thrombin generation, block tissue factor pathway inhibitor activity, and strengthen fibrin clots by enhancing their mechanical stability and resistance to fibrinolysis.2,3 In bacteria, polyphosphates are associated with energy and phosphate storage, stress resistance, chelation of metal ions, and escaping host immunity.4During severe infections, long-chain polyphosphates from bacteria contribute to coagulopathy, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and vascular-endothelial dysfunction.3,5,6 However, the mechanisms that convey the pleiotropic activities of polyphosphates in living cells remain understudied.