Kinetics of plasmin activation of single chain urinary-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) and demonstration of a high affinity interaction between scu-PA and plasminogen.

The activation kinetics of single chain urinary-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) by plasmin have been studied in detail. Nonstandard Michaelis-Menten kinetics were observed. To explain our results, we propose a model in which plasmin can exist in two conformations of lower activity (kcat/Km = 1.4 x 10(6) M-1 s-1) or higher activity (kcat/Km = 16.7 x 10(6) M-1 s-1) depending on whether a lysine binding site is occupied or free, respectively. These kinetic studies demonstrate that scu-PA interacts at this binding site (KD approximately 30 nM) and so is able to act as both a substrate and effector in this reaction. Binding was also demonstrated between scu-PA and Glu- or Lys-plasminogen at a high affinity site (KD approximately 65 nM), sensitive to the presence of lysine analogs. This suggests that scu-PA may be almost completely bound to plasminogen in plasma under normal physiological conditions and provides a possible explanation for the fibrin specificity of this activator, as discussed.     

On the mechanism of fibrin-specific plasminogen activation by staphylokinase

The mechanism of plasminogen activation by recombinant staphylokinase was studied both in the absence and in the presence of fibrin, in purified systems, and in human plasma. Staphylokinase, like streptokinase, forms a stoichiometric complex with plasminogen that activates plasminogen following Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Km = 7.0 microM and k2 = 1.5 s-1. In purified systems, alpha 2-antiplasmin inhibits the plasminogen-staphylokinase complex with k1(app) = 2.7 +/- 0.30 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 (mean +/- S.D., n = 12), but not the plasminogen-streptokinase complex. Addition of 6-aminohexanoic acid induces a concentration-dependent reduction of k1(app) to 2.0 +/- 0.17 x 10(4) M-1 s-1 (mean +/- S.D., n = 5) at concentrations greater than or equal to 30 mM, with a 50% reduction at a 6-aminohexanoic acid concentration of 60 microM. Staphylokinase does not bind to fibrin, and fibrin stimulates the initial rate of plasminogen activation by staphylokinase only 4-fold. Staphylokinase induces a dose-dependent lysis of a 0.12-ml 125I-fibrin-labeled human plasma clot submersed in 0.5 ml of citrated human plasma; 50% lysis in 2 h is obtained with 17 nM staphylokinase and is associated with only 5% plasma fibrinogen degradation. Corresponding values for streptokinase are 68 nM and more than 90% fibrinogen degradation. In the absence of a fibrin clot, 50% fibrinogen degradation in human plasma in 2 h requires 790 nM staphylokinase, but only 4.4 nM streptokinase. These results suggest the following mechanism for relatively fibrin-specific clot lysis with staphylokinase in a plasma milieu. In plasma in the absence of fibrin, the plasminogen-staphylokinase complex is rapidly neutralized by alpha 2-antiplasmin, thus preventing systemic plasminogen activation. In the presence of fibrin, the lysine-binding sites of the plasminogen-staphylokinase complex are occupied and inhibition by alpha 2-antiplasmin is retarded, thus allowing preferential plasminogen activation at the fibrin surface.     

Lys-plasminogen is a significant intermediate in the activation of Glu-plasminogen during fibrinolysis in vitro.

Plasminogen, the zymogen form of the fibrinolytic enzyme plasmin, is known to undergo plasmin-mediated modification in vitro. The modified form, Lys-plasminogen, is superior to the native Glu-plasminogen in fibrin binding and as a substrate for activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). The present study was undertaken to determine the existence and significance of the Glu- to Lys-plasminogen conversion during t-PA-mediated lysis of plasma clots in vitro. When human plasma was supplemented with exogenous Lys-plasminogen and clotted, a dose-dependent shortening of lysis time was observed. Formation of Lys-plasminogen in situ during fibrinolysis was determined using 131I-Glu-plasminogen-supplemented plasma. By the time of lysis, Lys-plasminogen had accumulated to about 20% of the initial concentration of Glu-plasminogen. Quantitation of activation of both Glu- and Lys-plasminogen as well as the conversion of Glu- to Lys-plasminogen in plasma supplemented with both 131I-Glu-plasminogen and 125I-Lys-plasminogen was accomplished by determining the flux of the isotopically labeled species along three pathways: Glu-plasminogen-->Glu-plasmin, Glu-plasminogen-->Lys-plasminogen, and Lys-plasminogen-->Lys-plasmin. After a brief lag, the Glu-plasminogen activation rate was constant until lysis was achieved, at which point activation ceased. The Lys-plasminogen activation rate also was essentially constant until lysis but was not characterized by a lag phase. The rate of conversion of Glu- to Lys-plasminogen was nonlinear and correlated directly with the rate of fibrinolysis. By the time lysis had occurred, Glu-plasminogen consumption had been distributed equally between direct activation to plasmin and conversion to Lys-plasminogen, and 45% of the plasmin which had been formed was derived from Lys-plasminogen. These results demonstrate both the formation and the subsequent activation of Lys-plasminogen during fibrinolysis. As a result of improved fibrin binding and activation of Lys-plasminogen compared to Glu-plasminogen, the formation of Lys-plasminogen within a clot constitutes a positive feedback mechanism that can further stimulate the activation of plasminogen by t-PA as fibrinolysis progresses.     

Trinitrobenzoylated poly(D-lysine) as a stimulator of interactions between plasminogen, plasmin, and tissue-type plasminogen activator

Trinitrobenzyl alkylation of poly(D-lysine) provides a novel powerful stimulator of tissue-type plasminogen activator. Its stimulatory effect on plasminogen activation is far greater than that of the original poly(D-lysine), and even surpasses that of fibrin. Its effect on plasmin-catalysed modification of both tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and native (Glu-1-) plasminogen are also investigated. Cleavage of one-chain t-PA to its two-chain form is monitored by measuring the increase in amidolytic activity which accompanies this transformation. Presupposing apparent first-order reaction kinetics, a theory is developed by which the rate constant, kcat/Km = 1.0 X 10(6) M-1 X s-1 of plasmin cleavage of one-chain t-PA can be calculated. Plasmin-catalysed transformation of 125I-labelled Glu-1- to Lys-77-plasminogen is quantified following separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 3.2. A rate constant, kcat/Km = 4.4 X 10(3) M-1 X s-1 is obtained for the reaction between plasmin and Glu-1-plasminogen in the presence of 1 mM trans-4-(aminomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid. Both of the above plasmin-catalysed reactions are strongly enhanced by trinitrobenzoylated poly(D-lysine). The mechanism of action of this stimulator is elucidated by studying its binding to both activator and plasmin(ogen), and by direct comparison of the results with measurements of plasminogen activation kinetics in the presence of the stimulator. Binding studies are performed exploiting the observation that an insoluble yellow complex is formed between plasminogen and modified poly(D-lysine). Protein-polymer interactions are also studied with solubilised components in an aqueous two-phase partition system containing dextran and poly(ethylene glycol). The rate enhancement of plasminogen activation is found to be closely correlated to the association of plasminogen to the stimulator. It is proposed that the stimulator effects of this simple polymer on the enzymatic activities of both plasminogen activator and plasmin are brought about by association of the proteinase and its substrate to a common matrix. Similarities between the action of the artificial and the natural stimulator (fibrin) are stressed. These properties of trinitrobenzoylated poly(D-lysine) makes it useful as a model for the study of the regulatory mechanism of the fibrinolytic process at the molecular level.     

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.     

Kinetic studies on the interaction of streptokinase and other plasminogen activators with plasminogen and fibrin.

The activation of Lys-plasminogen to plasmin by streptokinase was promoted by soluble fibrin such that Km was decreased and Vmax. increased. Enhancement was also observed when Glu-plasminogen was the substrate and was shared by the preformed streptokinase-plasminogen activator complex, indicating that the stimulation was not exerted primarily on the rate of active site formation.     

Plasminogen activation by single-chain urokinase in functional isolation. A kinetic study

The kinetics of the activation of Glu- and Lys-plasminogen by single-chain urokinase (sc urokinase) derived from the transformed human kidney cell line TCL-598 have been studied and compared with two-chain urokinase (tc urokinase). Plasminogen activation was determined by the increase in fluorescence polarization of fluorescein-labeled aprotinin, a high affinity inhibitor of plasmin. This methodology allows plasmin generation by sc urokinase to be measured in functional isolation, with no interfering generation of tc urokinase, sc urokinase was found to activate plasminogen to plasmin with apparent Michaelis-Menten-type kinetics. The Km for Glu-plasminogen activation was 47.7 microM, with a catalytic constant of 2.91 min-1. Lys-plasminogen activation by sc urokinase was characterized by a Km of 11.7 microM and a kcat of 5.60 min-1. The Km values for the activation of Glu- and Lys-plasminogen by tc urokinase were found to be similar to those for activation by sc urokinase (36.8 and 9.0 microM, respectively), but the catalytic constants were higher at 36.0 and 118 min-1, respectively. Therefore, on the basis of the catalytic efficiency kcat/Km, sc urokinase seems to have 16-27-fold lower activity than tc urokinase. This activity of sc urokinase is in contrast to its lack of activity against a low molecular weight peptide substrate (less than 0.2% of the activity of sc urokinase). The activation of sc urokinase to tc urokinase by plasmin was also characterized (Km = 3.0 microM, kcat = 105 min-1). Using these data, it was possible to calculate the theoretical rate of plasminogen activation by sc urokinase in the absence of aprotinin, when tc urokinase is generated by the action of plasmin. The calculated rate was in good agreement with that determined experimentally using the chromogenic substrate D-Val-Leu-Lys-p-nitroanilide. These data demonstrate that sc urokinase has properties which distinguish it from conventional serine protease zymogens. The lack of activity against low molecular weight peptide substrates demonstrates the inaccessibility of the substrate-binding pocket. However, there is a moderate activity against plasminogen, suggesting that plasminogen may be acting as both an effector and a substrate for sc urokinase.     

Fibrinolysis mediated by tissue plasminogen activator. Disclosure of a kinetic transition

The rate of 'Glu'-plasminogen activation by tissue plasminogen activator was repeatedly determined during a fibrinolytic process. The process was found to proceed via two distinct phases. The kinetics of each phase obeyed Michaelis-Menten equation: First phase; kcat about 0.17 s-1 and Km about 1 microM, second phase; kcat about 0.13 s-1 and Km about 0.06 microM. Practically identical results were obtained with one-chain as with two-chain tissue plasminogen activator. Transition from first to second phase occurred when the system had been exposed to a certain degree of plasmin digestion. Electrophoretic analysis demonstrated time correlation between the appearance of minimally degraded fibrin (X-fragments) and the transition. No such correlation was found between transition and conversion of 'Glu'-plasminogen to 'Lys'-plasminogen. The effect can result in an acceleration (up to 13-fold) of the fibrinolytic process once a slight degradation of the fibrin has taken place. In vivo, the effect described may constitute a mechanism that protects a fibrin clot from premature lysis.     

Rat oocyte tissue plasminogen activator is a catalytically efficient enzyme in the absence of fibrin. Endogenous potentiation of enzyme activity

Rat oocytes synthesize tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in response to stimuli which initiate meiotic maturation. Purified tPA exhibits optimal activity only in the presence of fibrin or fibrin substitutes. Because oocytes are not exposed to fibrin in situ, we investigated the possible stimulation of rat oocyte tPA activity by other endogenous factor(s). Oocytes were obtained from immature female rats which were induced to ovulate with gonadotropins. tPA activity was measured by the plasminogen-dependent cleavage of a chromogenic substrate. Measurements of kinetic parameters with Glu- or Lys-plasminogen revealed a Km for the rat oocyte enzyme of 1.3-2.1 microM compared with 23-24 microM for purified human tPA. Inclusion of the soluble fibrin substitute polylysine lowered the Km of human tPA by 30-fold (0.8 microM) but had no effect on the oocyte tPA Km. Polylysine had no significant effect on the Vmax values. The rate of plasminogen activation catalyzed by oocyte tPA was increased only 4.3-fold by fibrin while fibrin stimulated purified human tPA activity by 15.2-fold. After fractionation of oocyte extract by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, polylysine enhanced oocyte tPA activity as seen by casein zymography. tPA activity in the conditioned medium of a rat insulinoma cell line was also not stimulated with polylysine prior to fractionation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These data suggest that extravascular cells which elaborate tPA may produce stimulatory factor(s) which allow for full tPA activity at physiological concentrations of plasminogen in the absence of fibrin.     

Purification and characterization of a novel low molecular weight form of single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator

A low Mr form (Mr 32,000) of single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) was isolated from conditioned culture medium of a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, CALU-3 (ATCC, HTB-55). The purified material (scu-PA-32k) consists of a single polypeptide chain and is immunologically similar to Mr 33,000 urokinase. Its NH2-terminal sequence is identical to that beginning at Leu-144 of Mr 54,000 urokinase. Whereas low Mr urokinase is derived from mature Mr 54,000 scu-PA by limited hydrolysis by plasmin first of the Lys-158-Ile-159 peptide bond and then of the Lys-136-Lys-137, scu-PA-32k is generated by specific hydrolysis of the Glu-143-Leu-144 peptide bond by an unidentified protease. scu-PA-32k resembles its Mr 54,000 scu-PA counterpart by its very low activity on chromogenic substrates for urokinase, by plasminogen-dependent fibrinolytic activity on fibrin plates, and by the lack of specific binding to fibrin. It activates plasminogen directly with high affinity, Km = 0.9 microM, but low turnover number, kcat = 0.0028 s-1. It is converted to fully active two-chain urokinase by plasmin with Km = 12 microM and kcat = 0.3 s-1. Like Mr 54,000 scu-PA, it causes significant lysis of a 125I-labeled fibrin clot in human plasma with relatively less fibrinogen breakdown as compared to urokinase. scu-PA-32k, which also has conserved fibrin specificity, represents a molecular variant which may be more suitable for large scale production as a fibrin-specific thrombolytic agent by recombinant DNA technology.     

Kinetic studies on the effect of heparin and fibrin on plasminogen activators.

1. Possible interactions between fibrin(ogen) and heparin in the control of plasminogen activation were studied in model systems using the thrombolytic agents tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase and streptokinase.plasminogen activator complex and the substrates Glu- and Lys-plasminogen. 2. Both t-PA and urokinase activities were promoted by heparin and by pentosan polysulphate, but not by chondroitin sulphate or hyaluronic acid. The effect was on Km. 3. In the presence of soluble fibrin (and its mimic, CNBr-digested fibrinogen) the effect of heparin on t-PA was attenuated, although not abolished. In studies using a monoclonal antibody and 6-aminohexanoic acid, it was found that heparin and fibrin did not seem to share a binding site on t-PA. 4. The activity of t-PA B-chain was unaffected by heparin, so the binding site is located on the A-chain of t-PA (and urokinase). 5. Fibrin potentiated the activity of heparin on urokinase. The activity of streptokinase.plasminogen was unaffected by heparin whether or not fibrin was present. 6. If these influences of heparin and fibrin also occur in vivo, then, in the presence of heparin, the relative fibrin enhancement of t-PA will be diminished and the likelihood of systemic activation by t-PA is increased.     

Actin accelerates plasmin generation by tissue plasminogen activator.

Actin has been found to bind to plasmin's kringle regions, thereby inhibiting its enzymatic activity in a noncompetitive manner. We, therefore, examined its effect upon the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin by tissue plasminogen activator. Actin stimulated plasmin generation from both Glu- and Lys-plasminogen, lowering the Km for activation of Glu-plasminogen into the low micromolar range. Accelerated plasmin generation did not occur in the presence of epsilon-amino caproic acid or if actin was exposed to acetic anhydride, an agent known to acetylate lysine residues. Actin binds to tissue plasminogen activator (t-Pa) (Kd = 0.55 microM), at least partially via lysine-binding sites. Actin's stimulation of plasmin generation from Glu-plasminogen was inhibited by the addition of aprotinin and was restored by the substitution of plasmin-treated actin, indicating the operation of a plasmin-dependent positive feedback mechanism. Native actin binds to Lys-plasminogen, and promotes its conversion to plasmin even in the presence of aprotinin, indicating that plasmin's cleavage of either actin or plasminogen leads to further plasmin generation. Plasmin-treated actin binds Glu-plasminogen and t-PA simultaneously, thereby raising the local concentration of t-PA and plasminogen. Together, but not separately, actin and t-PA prolong the thrombin time of plasma through the generation of plasmin and fibrinogen degradation products. Actin-stimulated plasmin generation may be responsible for some of the changes found in peripheral blood following tissue injury and sepsis.     

Characterization of recombinant human single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator mutants produced by site-specific mutagenesis of lysine 158

The cDNA encoding full-length single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) was cloned and sequenced, and the recombinant scu-PA (rscu-PA) was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Two mutants, constructed by in vitro site-specific mutagenesis of Lys158 in rscu-PA to Gly158 (rscu-PA-Gly158) or to Glu158 (rscu-PA-Glu158), were also expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Wild type and mutant rscu-PAs were purified to homogeneity by immunoadsorption on an insolubilized monoclonal antibody raised against natural scu-PA (nscu-PA), followed by gel filtration. The specific activity of the mutant scu-PAs on fibrin plates is very low (less than 1,000 IU/mg) compared to that of the wild type rscu-PA (44,000 IU/mg). The mutants, in contrast to the wild type rscu-PA, are not converted to amidolytically active two chain u-PA (tcu-PA) by plasmin and do not cause lysis of a 125I-fibrin-labeled plasma clot immersed in citrated plasma. However, in a purified system, both rscu-PA-Gly158 and rscu-PA-Glu158 activate plasminogen following Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a much lower affinity (Km = 60-80 microM) but with a higher turnover rate constant (k2 = 0.01 s-1) as compared to the wild type rscu-PA (Km = 1.0 microM, k2 = 0.002 s-1). We conclude that conversion of scu-PA to tcu-PA is not a prerequisite for the activation of plasminogen. Substitution of Lys158 by Gly158 or Glu158 does, however, markedly decrease the stability of the Michaelis complex.     

Comparative kinetic analysis of the activation of human plasminogen by natural and recombinant single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator

Single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) may be obtained from conditioned cell culture media (natural scu-PA) or by expression of the cDNA encoding human scu-PA in Escherichia coli (recombinant scu-PA). The activation of Glu-plasminogen by natural and recombinant scu-PA can be described by a sequence of three reactions, each of which obeys Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Initial activation of plasminogen to plasmin by scu-PA (reaction I) occurs with a high affinity (Km below 0.8 microM) for both scu-PAs, while the catalytic rate constant (k2) is 0.017 s-1 for recombinant scu-PA but only 0.0009 s-1 for natural scu-PA. Subsequent conversion of scu-PA to urokinase (two-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator, tcu-PA) by generated plasmin (reaction II) occurs with a comparable affinity (Km about 5 microM) for natural and recombinant scu-PA and with a k2 of 0.23 s-1 for natural and 1.2 s-1 for recombinant scu-PA. Finally, activation of plasminogen by tcu-PA (reaction III) occurs with low affinity (Km 30-50 microM) but with a high catalytic rate constant (k2 about 5 s-1) for both natural and recombinant tcu-PA. The differences in the kinetic parameters of the activation of plasminogen by natural or recombinant scu-PA are thus mainly due to differences in turnover rate in the first reaction. Indeed, the catalytic rate constant of the first reaction is about 20-times higher for recombinant scu-PA than for natural scu-PA. Thus, surprisingly, the artificial, unglycosylated recombinant scu-PA molecule has a better catalytic efficiency than its natural glycosylated counterpart.     

Kinetic analysis of the interaction between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and tissue-type plasminogen activator.

The kinetics of inhibition of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) by the fast-acting plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was investigated in homogeneous (plasma) and heterogeneous (solid-phase fibrin) systems by using radioisotopic and spectrophotometric analysis. It is demonstrated that fibrin-bound t-PA is protected from inhibition by PAI-1, whereas t-PA in soluble phase is rapidly inhibited (K1 = 10(7) M-1.s-1) even in the presence of 2 microM-plasminogen. The inhibitor interferes with the binding of t-PA to fibrin in a competitive manner. As a consequence the Kd of t-PA for fibrin (1.2 +/- 0.4 nM) increases and the maximal velocity of plasminogen activation by fibrin-bound t-PA is not modified. From the plot of the apparent Kd versus the concentration of PAI-1 a Ki value of 1.3 +/- 0.3 nM was calculated. The quasi-similar values for the dissociation constants between fibrin and t-PA (Kd) and between PAI-1 and t-PA (Ki), as well as the competitive type of inhibition observed, indicate that the fibrinolytic activity of human plasma may be the result of an equilibrium distribution of t-PA between both the amount of fibrin generated and the concentration of circulating inhibitor.     

Characterization of a fusion protein consisting of amino acids 1 to 263 of tissue-type plasminogen activator and amino acids 144 to 411 of urokinase-type plasminogen activator

A hybrid human cDNA was constructed by splicing of a cDNA fragment of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), encoding 5'-untranslated, the pre-pro region and amino acids Ser1-Thr263, with a cDNA fragment of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), encoding amino acids Leu144-Leu411. The cDNA fragments were obtained from full length t-PA cDNA, cloned from Bowes melanoma poly(A)+ mRNA, and from full length u-PA cDNA, cloned from CALU-3 lung adenocarcinoma poly(A)+ mRNA. The hybrid (t-PA/u-PA) cDNA was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and the translation product purified from the conditioned cell culture media. On SDS-gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, the protein migrated as a single band with approximate Mr 70,000. On immunoblotting, it reacted both with rabbit antisera raised against human t-PA and against human u-PA. The urokinase-like amidolytic activity of the protein was only 320 IU/mg but increased to 43,000 IU/mg after treatment with plasmin, which resulted in conversion of the single-chain molecule (t-PA/scu-PA) to a two-chain molecule (t-PA/tcu-PA). The specific activity of the protein on fibrin plates was 57,000 IU/mg by comparison with the International Reference Preparation for Urokinase. Both the single-chain hybrid (t-PA/scu-PA) and the two-chain plasmin derivative (t-PA/tcu-PA) bound specifically to fibrin, albeit more weakly than t-PA. The t-PA/tcu-PA hybrid had a higher selectivity for fibrin than tcu-PA, measured in a system composed of a whole human 125I-fibrin-labeled plasma clot immersed in human plasma. Both hybrid proteins activated plasminogen directly with Km = 1.5 microM and k2 = 0.0058 s-1 for t-PA/scu-PA and with Km = 80 microM and k2 = 5.6 s-1 for t-PA/tcu-PA. CNBr-digested fibrinogen stimulated the activation of plasminogen with t-PA/tcu-PA (Km = 0.20 microM and k2 = 1.2 s-1). It is concluded that these t-PA/u-PA hybrid proteins combine, at least to some extent, the fibrin-affinity of t-PA with the enzymatic properties of u-PA (either scu-PA or tcu-PA), which in some assays result in improved fibrin-mediated plasminogen activation.     

The effect of kringles K1-3, K4 and K5 on lysis of fibrin clots caused by the activation of Glu- and Lys-plasminogen by a tissue activator

Kringles K1-3, K4 and K5 are studied for their effect on tissue plasminogen activator-induced fibrin clot lysis in the presence of Glu- and Lys-plasminogen. It is established that kringles K4 and K5 inhibit fibrinolysis of Glu-plasminogen, and K1-3--that of Lys-plasminogen. The role of plasminogen molecule kringles in the plasminogen interaction with fibrin polymer is discussed.     

Inhibition of the process of Glu-plasminogen activation by tissue activator with fibrin, DDE-complex, and D-dimer using alpha-2-antiplasmin

The alpha-2-antiplasmin influence on the Glu-plasminogen activation by tissue activator both on fibrin and fibrin(ogen) fragments was investigated. The kinetics of activation was studied and velocity of this process in the absence and presence of the inhibitor was calculated. It was established that alpha-2-antiplasmin decreased the velocity of Glu-plasminogen activation on desAABBfibrin, DDE-complex and DD-dimer and did no influence upon proenzyme activation on fibrinogen fragment--Ho1-DSK. In the presence of fibrin plasminogen activation linear related to the amount added tissue activator in limit concentration from 5 before 50 units/ml. It was shown that alpha-2-antiplasmin reduced the activation velocity with used concentration of tissue activator. Fibrin hydrolysis by plasmin, forming on its surface during the plasminogen activation by tissue activator, was also inhibited with alpha-2-antiplasmin. The obtained results are explained by the influence of the inhibitor on formation of the triple complex between plasminogen, tissue activator and fibrin, and competition of the alpha-2-antiplasmin for lysine-binding sites of tissue activator kringle 2 or for binding sites of the activator on fibrin.     

Binding of alpha-2-antiplasmin with fibrinogen/fibrin and their fragments independent of factor XIII

Possible interaction of alpha-2-antiplasmin with fibrinogen, fibrin and their fragments independent of factor XIII as well as the inhibitor effect on the Glu-plasminogen activation by tissue activator were studied. It was shown that alpha-2-antiplasmin is adsorbed on desAA- and desAABBfibrin films (Kd 69.0 +/- 1.0 nM 68.6 +/- 5.3 nM, respectively). Glu-Plasminogen has no effect on the inhibitor binding with desAABBfibrin. Alpha-2-antiplasmin shows strong affinity for fibrin D-dimer (Kd 65.0 +/- 4.0 nM) and D-fragment of fibrinogen (Kd 119.0 +/- 21.0 nM), but it does not interact with E-fragment. The inhibitor inside the fibrin clot decreases 10 times the activation rate of Glu-plasminogen by the tissue activator both is the presence and without factor XIII at physiological ratio of Glu-plasminogen, tissue activator, fibrin and alpha-2-antiplasmin. Thus we have shown that fibrinogen/fibrin binds alpha-2-antiplasmin independent of the factor XIII. Binding sites of the inhibitor are localized in D-fragment of fibrinogen and/or fibrin D-dimer. Alpha-2-antiplasmin inhibits the Glu-plasminogen activation by tissue activator on fibrin.     

Characterization of the kinetic pathway for fibrin promotion of alpha-thrombin-catalyzed activation of plasma factor XIII

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies are presented showing that the cofactor activity of fibrin I (polymerized des-A fibrinogen) in the alpha-thrombin-catalyzed proteolysis of activation peptide (AP) from plasma factor XIII can be attributed to formation of a fibrin I-plasma factor XIII complex (Kd = 65 nM), which is processed by alpha-thrombin more efficiently (kcat/Km = 1.2 x 10(7) M-1 s-1) than free, uncomplexed plasma factor XIII (kcat/Km = 1.4 x 10(5) M-1 s-1). The increase in the specificity constant (kcat/Km) is shown to be largely due to an increase in the apparent affinity of alpha-thrombin for the complex of plasma factor XIII and fibrin I, as reflected by the 30-fold decrease in the Michaelis constant observed for fibrin I bound plasma factor XIII relative to that for uncomplexed plasma factor XIII. Analysis of the initial rates of alpha-thrombin-catalyzed hydrolysis of fibrinopeptide B (FPB) from fibrin I polymer in the presence of plasma factor XIII indicated that alpha-thrombin bound to fibrin I in the ternary complex of alpha-thrombin, plasma factor XIII, and fibrin I polymer is competent to catalyze cleavage of both FPB from fibrin I and AP from plasma factor XIII. This observation is consistent with the view that alpha-thrombin within the ternary complex is anchored to fibrin I polymer through a binding site distinct from the active site (an exosite) and that the active site is alternatively complexed with the AP moiety of plasma factor XIII or the FPB moiety of fibrin I. This conclusion is supported by the observation that a 12-residue peptide, which binds to an exosite of alpha-thrombin and blocks the interaction of alpha-thrombin with fibrinogen and fibrin, competitively inhibits alpha-thrombin-catalyzed release of both FPB and AP from the fibrin I-plasma factor XIII complex.