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Plasminogen activation by human keratinocytes: molecular pathways and cell-biological consequences.

Keratinocytes are the major cellular constituent of stratified epithelia. Defects in these epithelia are re-epithelialized by keratinocytes migrating from the edge of the defect into the wound. The cells form a monolayer with subsequent differentiation into a multilayered epithelium. It is thought that plasminogen activation by migrating keratinocytes is an important event during re-epithelialization. In the present report we summarize the studies on plasminogen activation by human keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. Under the aspect of pericellular proteolysis the discussion is focused on the molecular mechanisms of plasminogen activation at the keratinocyte surface and on the cell-biological consequences of pericellular plasmin formation. We describe a cell surface-associated pathway of plasminogen activation which crucially depends on cell surface receptors for (pro)-uPA and plasmin(ogen). uPA bound to its receptor converts cell-bound plasminogen into the active protease plasmin. Compared to plasminogen activation in solution, activation at the keratinocyte cell surface is accelerated by a factor of approx. 7-10, and the plasmin generated and bound at the cell surface is protected against its specific inhibitor alpha 2-antiplasmin. Plasmin thus provided in the pericellular space leads to detachment of cultured keratinocytes from the growth substratum. Plasmin interferes with the adhesion of keratinocytes to fibrin, but not with the adhesion to collagen type I. By demonstrating that keratinocytes of the epithelial outgrowth in healing skin wounds express uPA and the uPA-R and that plasmin(ogen) is colocalized with uPA and/or uPA-R, indirect evidence is provided that this pathway may be operative in vivo. In view of previous findings that plasminogen activation is also observed under certain pathologic conditions in the epidermis, we conclude that plasminogen activation by keratinocytes is rather related to tissue damage and subsequent repair mechanisms than to a specific pathologic situation.

Fibrinolysin↗

Influence of delivery on plasminogen activator inhibitor activity.

Plasminogen activators initiate the fibrinolytic system by conversion of the proenzyme plasminogen to the active fibrin degrading enzyme plasmin. Plasminogen activator inhibitors inhibit the effects of both plasminogen activators. Uncomplicated pregnancies are accompanied by hypercoagulability and an increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Thrombosis is rare in the first trimester and most events are noted in the last trimester. Therefore, we studied the fibrinolytic system at the end of pregnancy and in the puerperium. Plasma concentrations of urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA/competitive radioimmunoassay), tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA/sandwich ELISA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI/functional assay) were determined in 44 women (age: 24.3 +/- 4.3 years) with normal pregnancy near term. Plasma samples were collected before the onset of labour and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days after delivery. Compared with an age-matched non pregnant control group (8.3 +/- 3.94 U/ml) significantly increased PAI activity (12.13 +/- 4.79 U/ml - p less than 0.005) was measured before delivery with a subsequent significant decrease (8.13 +/- 1.97 U/ml) to normal values on day 1 after delivery; plasma u-PA and t-PA antigen levels remained unchanged. Placental weight and birth weight had no influence on plasma levels of both plasminogen activators.

Adult↗

Modulation of cell-associated plasminogen activation by stromelysin-1 (MMP-3).

Stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) cleaves a 55 kDa kringle 1-4 fragment, containing the lysine-binding site(s) involved in cellular binding, from 92 kDa plasminogen and removes a 17 kDa NH2-terminal fragment, containing the cellular receptor-binding site, from 45 kDa urokinase (u-PA), but a potential role of MMP-3 in the regulation of cellular fibrinolytic activity by affecting binding and/or activation of plasminogen and/or single-chain u-PA has not been established. Human plasminogen (input concentration 100 nM for 4x10(6) cells per ml) was shown to bind specifically to human monocytoid THP-1 cells, to murine MMP-3 deficient smooth muscle cells (SMC) and fibroblasts (1.9, 0.92 and 1.0x10(6) molecules per cell, respectively). Treatment with MMP-3 (final concentration 0-50 nM) of cells saturated with bound plasminogen (about 25 nM), overnight at 37 degrees C, resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of the amount of u-PA activatable plasminogen (reduction to 25-40% of the value in the absence of MMP-3). Immunoblotting with specific monoclonal antibodies and autoradiography of eluates of the cells treated with MMP-3 revealed cleavage of plasminogen into the 55 kDa fragment and miniplasminogen (kringle 5 plus the proteinase domain). Binding of human single chain u-PA (scu-PA) to human THP-1 and HT 1080 cells amounted to 2.5x10(6) and 7.1x10(6) molecules per cell, respectively. Treatment with MMP-3 (final concentration 0-25 nM) of cell-bound u-PA (about 17 nM for THP-1 and 47 nM for HT1080 cells), overnight at 37 degrees C, did not alter cell-associated u-PA activity, measured in a direct chromogenic substrate assay or in a plasminogen-coupled chromogenic substrate assay (residual u-PA activity always > or =85% of that without MMP-3 treatment). Autoradiography of 125I-labeled u-PA moieties, removed from the cells by treatment with acid or with phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C, confirmed that u-PA remained essentially intact after MMP-3 treatment. These data indicate that MMP-3 may downregulate cell-associated plasmin activity by decreasing the amount of activatible plasminogen, without affecting cell-bound u-PA activity.

Binding Sites↗

The importance of the preactivation peptide in the two-stage mechanism of human plasminogen activation.

The two stages in the activation of human plasminogen by urokinase have been examined kinetically in order to evaluate the significance of each stage in the activation process. The cleavage of the preactivation peptide from the NH2 terminus of native plasminogen (NH2-terminal glutamic acid) is clearly catalyzed by urokinase and is the rate-limiting first step in activation (Stage 1); this reaction is 20-fold slower than the conversion of the intermediate plasminogen (NH2-terminal lysine) to plasmin (Stage 2). Both lysine and its analogoue, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, exert two effects on the activation of native plasminogen. At low concentrations of these agents, activation is greatly accelerated. Analysis of activation in the presence and absence of these agents by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis indicates that the activation pathway is the same in both cases with the formation of a transient intermediate plasminogen; only the kinetics of proteolysis are altered. This enhancement in the rate of activation results solely from acceleration of the Stage 1 reaction; Stage 2 is essentially unaffected at low concentrations. Stage 1 is maximally enhanced (75-fold) at either 0.0025 M epsilon-aminocaproic acid or 0.025 M lysine and occurs 4 times more rapidly than Stage 2, which becomes the rate-limiting step at these concentrations. Plasmin also cleaves the preactivation peptide from native plasminogen and this reaction rate is enhanced by the same concentrations of lysine and epsilon-aminocaproic acid. These data suggest that lysine and epsilon-aminocaproic acid, which are known to bind to plasminogen and significantly alter its conformation, may thereby enhance preactivation peptide cleavage and consequently, plasminogen activation. At high concentrations, both Stages 1 and 2 are similarly inhibited by these agents, which suggests that this effect may be exerted by the direct inhibition of urokinase. The relative rates of preactivation peptide cleavage by the enzymes urokinase, plasmin, thrombin, and ancrod were also determined. Urokinase is 10 times more effective than plasmin in catalyzing this reaction and 1.8 X 10(4) times more effective than thrombin, while ancrod does not exert an effect. No plasmin is formed by either thrombin or ancrod.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Stimulation of plasminogen activation by recombinant cellular prion protein is conserved in the NH2-terminal fragment PrP23-110.

The cellular prion protein (PrP(c)), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen are expressed in synaptic membranes in vivo. In the central nervous system the fibrinolytic system is associated with excitotoxin-mediated neurotoxicity and Alzheimer's disease. Recently binding of the disease associated isoform of the prion protein (PrP(Sc)) to plasminogen and stimulation of t-PA activity have been reported. In this study the interaction of PrP(c) and plasminogen was investigated using chromogenic assays in vitro. We found that plasmin is able to cleave recombinant PrP(c) at lysine residue 110 generating an NH(2)-terminal truncated molecule that has previously been described as a major product of PrP(c) metabolism. We further characterized the proteolytic fragments with respect to their ability to stimulate plasminogen activation in vitro. Our results show that the NH(2)-terminal part of PrP(c) spanning amino acids 23-110 (PrP23-110) together with low molecular weight heparin stimulates t-PA mediated plasminogen activation in vitro. The apparent rate constant was increased 57 fold in the presence of 800 nM PrP23-110. Furthermore, we compared the stimulation of t-PA activity by PrP(c) and beta-amyloid peptide (1-42). While the activity of the beta-amyloid was independent of low molecular weight heparin, PrP23-110 was approximately 4- and 37 fold more active than beta-amyloid in the absence or presence of low molecular weight heparin. In summary, plasmin cleaves PrP(c) in vitro and the liberated NH(2)-terminal fragment accelerates plasminogen activation. Cleavage of PrP c has previously been reported. Thus cleavage of PrP(c) enhancing plasminogen activation at the cell surface could constitute a regulatory mechanism of pericellular proteolysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Correlation between progressive adsorption of plasminogen to blood clots and their sensitivity to lysis.

The binding of plasminogen to preformed human plasma clots immersed in citrated human plasma was measured and correlated with the sensitivity of these clots to lysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA), recombinant single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (rscu-PA) or two chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (tcu-PA, urokinase). When 0.15 ml plasma clots were compressed mechanically to about 1% of their original weight, and immersed in 0.15 ml plasma, 131I-labeled native plasminogen (Glu-plasminogen) adsorbed progressively from the plasma milieu onto the clot; binding was 3 +/- 1% (n = 10) after 1 h, 7 +/- 1% after 12 h and 12 +/- 1% after 48 h. This was associated with an increased sensitivity of the clot to lysis; 50% clot lysis in 4 h was obtained with 65 +/- 5 ng/ml (n = 3) rt-PA before and 30 +/- 5 ng/ml (n = 3) after 48 h preincubation in plasma (p less than 0.01), with corresponding values of 660 +/- 55 ng/ml (n = 3) and 280 +/- 25 ng/ml (n = 3) for rscu-PA, (p less than 0.01), and 800 +/- 85 ng/ml (n = 3) and 270 +/- 35 ng/ml (n = 3) for urokinase (p less than 0.01). Additional binding of plasminogen and increased sensitivity to lysis were reduced or abolished when the clot was preincubated in plasminogen-depleted or in t-PA-depleted plasma, or when 20 mM 6-aminohexanoic acid or 2,000 KIU/ml aprotinin were added.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adsorption↗

A precise and rapid microtitre plate clot lysis assay: methodology, kinetic modeling and measurement of catalytic constants for plasminogen activation during fibrinolysis.

A rapid and precise turbidimetric clot lysis assay employing a microtitre plate reader and personal computer is described in detail. The use of such widely available instrumentation, the convenience and rapid throughput suggest the assay could be developed as a reference method with which to measure the potency of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in conjunction with the WHO reference preparation. The method has been used to investigate molecular parameters involved in fibrinolysis. Aggregation status of the fibrin does not appear to influence the mechanism of plasminogen activation and clot lysis by plasmin. High ratios of plasminogen to fibrin resulted in a change in clot turbidity and in a change in the lysis profile of turbidity versus time. This is probably the result of plasminogen binding to fibrin and consequent restriction of the access of plasmin to its sites of cleavage in the fibrin. A simple model is proposed, and equations have been derived, for the kinetics of lysis which adequately describe the mechanism and which are confirmed by experimental data. This model results in estimates of the Km and kcat for the activation of plasminogen by t-PA during clot lysis of approximately 150 nM and 0.1 s-1, respectively, in excellent agreement with published values. The assay should therefore prove useful in quantitative evaluations of the molecular phenomena occurring during fibrinolysis. The more rapid activation of lys-plasminogen than glu-plasminogen by t-PA was confirmed. However, evidence was obtained that the lys-form binds more tightly to fibrin by the same factor. This observation suggested that the appropriate substrate in the kinetic model is fibrin-bound plasminogen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Buffers↗

[Kinetics of glu- and lys-plasminogen activation by the tissue activator in a fibrin clot].

Using a modified procedure for measuring the time of fibrin clot lysis, the kinetics of Glu- and Lys-plasminogen activation by the tissue activator was studied. Within the plasminogen concentration range of 0.4-100 nM the rate of activation of both protein forms obeys the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. At Lys-plasminogen concentration equimolar to that of fibrin, the rate of activation of the former decreases down to that of Glu-plasminogen activation. The kinetic constants for Glu- and Lys-plasminogen activation (Km) are equal to 0.055 and 0.013 microM; k = 0.19 and 0.21 s-1, respectively. The Km values for fibrin-bound Glu- and Lys-plasminogen are equal to 0.25 nM and 8 nM, respectively (k = 0.08 and 0.26 s-1, respectively). It is assumed that the tissue activator exhibits a higher affinity for the Glu-plasminogen--fibrin complex than for the Lys-plasminogen-fibrin complex.

Fibrin↗

Fibrin clot lysis by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is impaired in plasma from pediatric patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.

Large vessel thrombi can present life-threatening complications following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in pediatric patients. We investigated the thrombolytic response to tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) of stored, pooled plasma (days 4-14 postoperatively) from 41 patients (mean age 4 years, 9 months) who underwent OLT at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto between 1986 and 1990. Trace-labeled fibrin clots were prepared by recalcifying 500-microliters aliquots of patient plasma spiked with 125I fibrinogen and then incubated at 37 degrees C in patient plasma in the presence or absence of tPA (0.1 or 0.3 mg/ml). At the end of the incubation period, the extent of clot lysis and concentrations of fibrinogen, plasminogen, and alpha 2 antiplasmin were determined. Pooled adult plasma was used as a control. Fibrin clot lysis in OLT plasma was significantly reduced compared with controls (P < 0.01). Initial concentrations of plasminogen were significantly reduced in OLT plasma. To determine if the low plasminogen levels limited the thrombolytic effect of tPA, we supplemented OLT plasma with purified plasminogen. Fibrin clots placed in OLT plasma containing adult levels of plasminogen showed a similar lytic response as adults. In summary, the reduced fibrinolytic response of OLT fibrin clots to tPA was due to low concentrations of plasminogen and corrected by plasminogen supplementation.

Adult↗

[Molecular interactions during fibrinolysis. Search for new plasminogen activators].

The data on the kinetics of plasminogen activation by its tissue and urokinase-type plasminogen activators are reviewed. The mechanisms of this interaction in the presence of fibrin are analyzed. The regulatory role of fibrin in plasminogen activation involving its direct interaction with tissue-type plasminogen activator and indirect interaction with urokinase-type plasminogen activator is demonstrated. The functions of these activators in fibrinolysis as well as clinical and experimental data demonstrating their mutual contribution to thrombus elimination were revealed. The criteria of thrombolytic efficacy of plasminogen activators were defined, and the data on fibrinolytic preparations obtained by chemical modification, recombinant DNA techniques, or their combination were analyzed from this standpoint. The prospects for the development of new-generation plasminogen activators and the importance of studying the properties of thrombolytic compositions were demonstrated. The results of molecular, physiological, and clinical studies concerning the therapy with plasminogen activators are considered.

Fibrinolysis↗

Activation of hepatocyte growth factor by the plasminogen activators uPA and tPA.

Hepatocyte growth factor, also known as scatter factor, is a complete mitogen for hepatocytes that bears sequence and structural homology with plasminogen. Because it exists in both a mitogenically inactive single-chain form and an active two-chain form, we were interested in determining whether plasminogen activators could properly cleave single-chain hepatocyte growth factor to generate active two-chain hepatocyte growth factor. Herein we report that both urokinase-type plasminogen activator and tissue-type plasminogen activator can cleave single-chain hepatocyte growth factor, generating two-chain hepatocyte growth factor. When equal quantities of plasminogen activator-treated and activator-untreated hepatocyte growth factor are compared in serum-free in vitro bioassays, the treated hepatocyte growth factor is mitotically more active. Also, urokinase-type plasminogen activator was inactive against hepatocyte growth factor molecules with a mutated cleavage site. This suggests that urokinase-type and tissue-type plasminogen activator may be natural biological regulators of hepatocyte growth factor. Because the active form of hepatocyte growth factor is a powerful stimulator of DNA synthesis and cell motility, these findings may be relevant in understanding the role of plasminogen activators in the biology of cancer invasion and metastasis.

Animals↗

Platelets and plasminogen activation.

Platelets serve as a site for assembly of the proteins of the plasminogen activator system. Once bound to the platelet surface, tissue-type plasminogen activator manifests enhanced catalytic activity. Plasmin, once formed, also binds to the platelets surface and, at low concentrations, renders the platelet dysfunctional by cleaving glycoprotein IIIa selectively in the presence of bound fibrinogen. At higher concentrations (approximately 1 caseinolytic unit/ml), plasmin activates the platelet directly. Activated platelets also bind plasminogen and tissue-type plasminogen activator, and manifest enhanced catalytic efficiency of plasminogen activation. These observations suggest that plasminogen activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator is an autocatalytic process on the platelet surface, and that unique reciprocating mechanisms govern the interaction between platelets and the components of the plasminogen activator system.

Blood Platelets↗

Extraction of plasminogen activator in the rat's submaxillary gland.

Plasminogen is activated into the fibrinolytic enzyme plasmin via: a tissue type activator and F-XII dependent and F-XII independent systems. The purpose of this study was extract and quantify the tissue-type plasminogen activator present in the salivary glands of rats. The extracted plasminogen activator-EPA- was obtained by homogenizing 1 vol of tissue with 1 vol of 2M KSCN solution. Solution with EPA was applied by triplicated in the standard plasminogen-rich and plasminogen-free fibrin plates. The degree of fibrinolytic activity was observed as areas of liquefaction and measured as the product (mm2) of the two perpendicular diameter of the lysed zones. The submaxillary's EPA produced a mean lytic area of 198 mm2 +/- 18 SEM only in the plasminogen-rich fibrin plate. This activity extrapolated into a standard dilution curve, represented the equivalent to a 50 mg/ml plasmin solution. No lysis was induced by EPA from parotid and sublingual glands. The antifibrinolytic drug E-ACA in a dose dependent inhibitory action, significantly reduced the lytic activity induced by submaxillary's EPA. The observation that EPA produced areas of liquefaction only in plasminogen-rich fibrin plate and that this activity was inhibited by E-ACA is clear indication that the zones of lysis was specific fibrinolysis -activation of plasminogen into plasmin- and not due to non-specific proteolysis.

Animals↗

Role of the plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase systems in epidermal growth factor- and scatter factor-stimulated invasion of carcinoma cells.

Normal as well as neoplastic cells traverse extracellular matrix barriers by mobilizing proteolytic enzymes in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF)-EGF receptor (EGFR) or hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (SF)-c-Met interactions. The plasminogen activator-plasminogen axis has been proposed to play a key role during cell invasion, but the normal development of plasminogen activator- as well as that of plasminogen-deficient mice supports the existence of alternate proteolytic systems that permit cells to traverse extracellular matrix barriers. To characterize the role that matrix-degrading proteinases play in EGF- or SF-stimulated invasion, a human squamous carcinoma cell line (UM-SCC-1) was triggered atop the matrices of type I collagen or human dermal explants in a three-dimensional culture system. During EGF- or SF-induced invasion, UM-SCC-1 cells expressed urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPA receptor as well as the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), membrane-type MMP-1, collagenase 1, stromelysin 1, and gelatinase B. Despite the presence of a positive correlation between uPA receptor-uPA expression and growth factor-stimulated invasion, UM-SCC-1 invasion was not affected by inhibitors directed against the plasminogen activator-plasminogen axis. In contrast, both recombinant and synthetic MMP inhibitors completely suppressed invasion by either EGF- or SF-stimulated cells without affecting either proteinase expression or cell motility across collagen-coated surfaces. These data demonstrate that MMPs, but not the plasminogen activator-plasmin system, can directly regulate the ability of either EGF- or SF-stimulated tumor cells to invade interstitial matrix barriers.

Animals↗

Involvement of the plasminogen activator/plasmin proteolytic cascade in fertilization.

At the time of fertilization both murine gametes express plasminogen-dependent proteolytic activity: unfertilized eggs secrete tissue-type plasminogen activator and ejaculated spermatozoa have urokinase-type plasminogen activator bound to their surface. We now report that plasminogen is present in the fertilization environment and that both spermatozoa and eggs are able to specifically bind plasminogen. Furthermore, in vitro fertilization of mouse eggs is inhibited by antibodies which inhibit the catalytic activity of plasmin. Finally, with two different in vitro fertilization protocols, the addition of plasminogen to the fertilization medium increases the yield of fertilized eggs. These results provide evidence for a role of the plasminogen activator/plasmin proteolytic cascade in mammalian fertilization.

Animals↗

An assay system for the modulators of plasminogen activation on the cell surface.

Plasminogen activation on the cell surface is regulated by a variety of modulators which balance surface-bound plasminogen activators (PAs) and plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs). In this study, we developed as assay system to assess modulation of cell-associated plasminogen activation. Plasmin generation by endogenous plasminogen activators was measured with a combination of exogenously added plasminogen and a chromogenic substrate, S-2251, in the presence of living cells. A cell surface PA activity was quantitated by adopting a rate of plasmin generation. We used HT-1080, a human fibrosarcoma cell line, as representative of cells which have both PAs and PAIs on their cell surface. A basal level of cell surface PA activity was specifically reduced by anti-urokinase-type PA IgG and enhanced by anti-PAI-1 IgG, suggesting that the basal level is determined by a balance between uPA and PAI-1 on the cell surface. We examined effects of dexamethasone and thrombin on cell surface PA activity in the assay system. Dexamethasone appeared to suppress the cell surface PA activity by enhancing de novo synthesis of PAI-1, whereas thrombin suppressed it by inactivating single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activators. These results indicate that our assay system can be adapted for the screening of various types of PA modulators.

Cell Membrane↗

Modulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator expression by platelet activating factor in human glioma cells.

PURPOSE: For tumor growth, proteolytic remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a key factor. To determine proteolytic activity in human glioma cells, fibrinolytic activity, mRNA expression of fibrinolytic factors, and fibrinolytic inhibitors were studied in human glioma cell lines. The effect of platelet activating factor (PAF), a potent mediator of inflammatory and immune responses, on this fibrinolytic activity was also examined. METHODS: The fibrinolytic activities of conditioned medium and cell lysates from human glioma cell lines, A172, T98G, U87 and TM1 were studied by fibrin plate zymography. mRNA expression of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1, PAI-2) was measured by Northern blot analysis. PAF was added to the medium, and its effects on cell proliferation, fibrinolytic activity, mRNA expression of plasminogens and inhibitors were studied. RESULTS: mRNA expression of plasminogens and inhibitors differed between individual cell lines. Only the medium and cell lysates from A172 cells revealed fibrinolytic activity. A172 cells showed mRNA expression of tPA. PAF at low concentrations, such as 1 nM, stimulated A172 cell proliferation, and high concentrations of PAF inhibited proliferation. PAF stimulated tPA release into the conditioned medium. mRNA expression of tPA was stimulated by low concentrations of PAF and inhibited by high concentrations. CONCLUSION: The variability of mRNA expression of plasminogen activators (PAs) between different glioma cell lines may indicate that plasminogens and their inhibitors do not directly correlate with brain tumor growth. PAF may be an important factor in the local control of fibrinolytic activity in glioma and its proliferation.

Blotting, Northern↗

The interaction of streptokinase.plasminogen activator complex, tissue-type plasminogen activator, urokinase and their acylated derivatives with fibrin and cyanogen bromide digest of fibrinogen. Relationship to fibrinolytic potency in vitro.

The effects of purified soluble fibrin and of fibrinogen fragments (fibrin mimic) on the activation of Lys-plasminogen (i.e. plasminogen residues 77-790) to plasmin by streptokinase.plasminogen activator complex and by tissue-type plasminogen activator were studied. Dissociation constants of both activators were estimated to lie in the range 90-160 nM (fibrin) and 16-60 nM (CNBr-cleavage fragments of fibrinogen). The kinetic mechanism for both types of activator comprised non-essential enzyme activation via a Rapid Equilibrium Ordered Bireactant sequence. In order to relate the fibrin affinity of plasminogen activators to their fibrinolytic potency, the rate of lysis of supported human plasma clots formed in the presence of unmodified or active-centre-acylated precursors of plasminogen activators was studied as a function of the concentration of enzyme derivative. The concentrations of unmodified enzyme giving 50% lysis/h in this assay were 0.9, 2.0 and 11.0 nM for tissue-type plasminogen activator, streptokinase.plasmin(ogen) and urokinase respectively. However, the potencies of active-centre-acylated derivatives of these enzymes suggested that acylated-tissue plasminogen activator and streptokinase.plasminogen complexes of comparable hydrolytic stability were of comparable potency. Both types of acyl-enzyme were significantly more potent than acyl-urokinases.

Acylation↗