Influence of ring- and side-chain substituents on the transamination of aromatic amino acids by two multispecific aspartate-aromatic aminotransferase isozymes purified from bushbean shoots

The breadth of substrate specificity shown by the multispecific aspartate-aromatic aminotransferase of bushbean (Phaseolus vulgaris) has been investigated by testing the ability of two cytosolic isozymes (I and II), purified from shoot tissue, to catalyse transamination reactions between a range of ring- and sidechain-substituted aromatic amino acids and 2-oxoglutarate. Ring-substituted phenylalanines were the most reactive substrates whereas ring-substitution in tyrosine or tryptophan resulted in transamination rates lower than those observed with the parent amino acids. All side chain-substituted analogues were found to be totally inactive. The highest activity shown by any ring-substituted phenylalanine was observed with the 4-amino- compound, followed closely by the 4-hydroxy- and 4-halogen-compounds. In contrast, 4-nitrophenylalanine was completely inactive. These trends were consistent for both isozymes I and II, but only isozyme II showed greatly enhanced activity over that found with the parent amino acid when certain ring-substituted analogues were tested. The varying capacity of the bushbean isozymes to utilize the present range of substituted amino acids is compared with previous reports on the substrate specificity shown by aspartate and aromatic aminotransferases isolated from mammalian and microbial systems. A model for the mechanism of activation observed with bushbean isozyme II in the presence of certain 4-substituted aromatic amino acids is proposed, based on current understanding of the nature of the active site of animal aspartate aminotransferases.     

Porcine high molecular weight kininogen: its purification and properties as a thiol proteinase inhibitor as compared to human high molecular weight kininogen

1. High mol. wt kininogen (HMW kininogen) was purified to a homogeneous state from porcine plasma. 2. The protein exhibited a strong inhibitory activity for thiol proteinases such as ficin, papain and calpain I, whereas it did not inhibit serine proteinases, trypsin and chymotrypsin. 3. The mol. wt, isoelectric point, amino acid and carbohydrate compositions, stabilities to temperature and pH, kinetic constants, and immunological properties of the porcine HMW kininogen were determined and compared with those of human HMW kininogen.     

Proteinase inhibitors in rat serum. Purification and partial characterization of three functionally distinct trypsin inhibitors.

Three different serine proteinase inhibitors were isolated from rat serum and purified to apparent homogeneity. One of the inhibitors appears to be homologous to alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor isolated from man and other species, but the other two, designated rat proteinase inhibitor I and rat proteinase inhibitor II, seem to have no human counterpart. alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitor (Mr 55000) inhibits trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase, the three serine proteinases tested. Rat proteinase inhibitor I (Mr 66000) is active towards trypsin and chymotrypsin, but is inactive towards elastase. Rat proteinase inhibitor II (Mr 65000) is an effective inhibitor of trypsin only. Their contributions to the trypsin-inhibitory capacity of rat serum are about 68, 14 and 18% for alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, rat proteinase inhibitor I and rat proteinase inhibitor II respectively.     

Isolation and immunological characterization of three highly purified serine proteinases from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)

Summary Three individual serine proteinases (I, II, III) originating from Antarctic krill (E. superba) were separated and highly purified using a combination of affinity and high resolution ion exchange chromatography. Each enzyme showed a single protein band (30 000 Daltons) in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis indicating high purity and identical molecular weights. Moreover, each enzyme demonstrated one immunoprecipitate on crossed immunoelectrophoresis (two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis) using polyclonal rabbit antibodies which confirmed the high purity of the individual enzymes. A mixture of the three enzymes (I, II, III) revealed two immunoprecipitates, not one or three which should have been the case for identical or non-identical immunological properties. Double immunodiffusion test according to Ouchterlony exhibited immunological identity between enzyme II and III. Enzyme I showed only partial identity with II/III. These findings correlated well with biochemical data on the three serine proteinases. Enzyme I is able to liberate free amino acids from polypeptides in comparison with enzyme II and III (classical true endopeptidases), which do not. We suggest that these unique biochemical properties also have their immunological counterpart expressed as other antigenic determinants of the molecular structure.     

New class of sensitive and selective fluorogenic substrates for serine proteinases. Amino acid and dipeptide derivatives of rhodamine.

A series of dipeptide derivatives of Rhodamine, each containing an arginine residue in the P1 position and one of ten representative benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz)-blocked amino acids in the P2 position, has been synthesized, purified and characterized as substrates for serine proteinases. These substrates are easily prepared with high yields. Cleavage of a single amide bond converts the non-fluorescent bisamide substrate into a highly fluorescent monoamide product. Macroscopic kinetic constants for the interaction of these substrates with bovine trypsin, human and dog plasmin, and human thrombin are reported. Certain of these substrates exhibit extremely large specificity constants. For example, the kcat./Km for bovine trypsin with bis-(N-benzyloxycarbonylglycyl-argininamido)-Rhodamine [(Cbz-Gly-Arg-NH)2-Rhodamine] is 1 670 000 M-1 X S-1. Certain of these substrates are also highly selective. For example, the most specific substrate for human plasmin, (Cbz-Phe-Arg-NH2)-Rhodamine, is not hydrolysed by human thrombin, and the most specific substrate for human thrombin, (Cbz-Pro-Arg-NH)2-Rhodamine, is one of the least specific substrates for human plasmin. Comparison of the kinetic constants for hydrolysis of the dipeptide substrates with that of the single amino acid derivative, (Cbz-Arg-NH)2-Rhodamine, indicates that selection of the proper amino acid residue in the P2 position can effect large increases in substrate specificity. This occurs primarily as a result of an increase in kcat. as opposed to a decrease in Km and, in certain cases, is accompanied by a large increase in selectivity. Because of their high degree of sensitivity and selectivity, these Rhodamine-based dipeptide compounds should be extremely useful substrates for studying serine proteinases.     

Characterization of two multispecific aspartate aminotransferase isozymes purified from bushbean shoots capable of transaminating aromatic amino acids and severalDL-chloro-phenylalanines

Two electrophoretically distinct isozymes ofL-phenylalanine aminotransferase (Enz I, Enz II) purified from a total soluble shoot extract of bushbean have been characterized. The M_rs of Enz I and Enz II were 100 000 and 110 000, respectively. Both isozymes showed pH optima of 8.5. Enz I was able to use either 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) or oxaloacetate (OAA) equally as a keto acid substrate whenL-phenylalanine was the amino donor, while Enz II preferred 2-OG. Neither isozyme was able to use glyoxylate or pyruvate in the presence ofL-phenylalanine. When tested with a range of protein amino acids, both Enz I and Enz II showed the highest rate of transamination withL-aspartate, indicating that both isozymes wereL-aspartate aminotransferases capable of also showingL-aromatic aminotransferase activity.L-Phenylalanine aminotransferase activity relative toL-aspartate aminotransferase activity was found to be 0.6 % for Enz I and 3.3% for Enz II. Lineweaver-Burk plots of kinetic data gave apparent K_m values (mM) for Enz I of 2.3 (L-Asp), 55.0 (L-Phe) and 9.0 (2-OG) and for Enz II, 2.8 (L-Asp), 320.0 (L-Phe) and 8.2 (2-OG). The values were confirmed by treatment of the data by Hill plots. When tested with a series of 12 ring-substitutedDL-chlorophenylalanines, Enz I was active only with the 3-chloro- and 4-chloro-compounds, while Enz II was active with all three monochloro-compounds as well as with the 2,4-, 2,6- and 3,4-dichlorophenylalanines. The activity of Enz II with 4-chlorophenylalanine was very high, 222 % higher than that observed withDL-phenylalanine. Enz I was completely inhibited by 1.0 mM Ca²⁺ while Enz II was unaffected by this cation, which suggested different subcellular locations for each isozyme. Cell fractionation studies indicated, however, that both Enz I and Enz II were cytoplasmic. Different isozymes of this multispecific aspartate—aromatic aminotransferase were found in the chloroplasts and mitochondria of bushbean shoots.     

Hypodermin B, a trypsin-related enzyme from the insect Hypoderma lineatum. Comparison with hypodermin A and Hypoderma collagenase, two serine proteinases from the same source

Hypodermin B, a serine proteinase with a molecular weight of 23000, was purified to homogeneity from the larvae Hypoderma lineatum. It is stoichiometrically inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and fully inactivated by N-tosyllysine chloromethyl ketone and soya bean and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitors. N-Tosylphenylalanine chloromethyl ketone and ovomucoid are without effect on its activity. Hypodermin B hydrolyses both amide and ester substrates of trypsin but does not display any chymotryptic activity on synthetic substrates. Its specificity on the B chain of insulin is slightly broader than that of bovine trypsin. Its amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence suggest structural homology with serine proteinases of the trypsin family and with two other serine proteinases, hypodermin A and Hypoderma collagenase, previously isolated from the same larvae. Hypodermins A and B are very similar with respect to their inhibition and specificity, they differ however strongly from Hypoderma collagenase.     

Molecular cloning and partial characterization of a trypsin-like protein in salivary glands of Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Trypsin-like enzymes from the salivary gland complex (SGC) of Lygus hesperus Knight were partially purified by preparative isoelectric focusing (IEF). Enzyme active against Nalpha-benzoyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BApNA) focused at approximately pH 10 during IEF. This alkaline fraction gave a single activity band when analyzed with casein zymograms. The serine proteinase inhibitors, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and lima bean trypsin inhibitor, completely inhibited or suppressed the caseinolytic activity in the crude salivary gland extract as well as the IEF-purified sample. Chicken egg white trypsin inhibitor also inhibited the IEF-purified sample but was not effective against a major caseinolytic band in the crude salivary gland extract. These data indicated the presence of serine proteinases in the SGC of L. hesperus. Cloning and sequencing of a trypsin-like precursor cDNA provided additional direct evidence for serine proteinases in L. hesperus. The encoded trypsin-like protein included amino acid sequence motifs, which are conserved with five homologous serine proteinases from other insects. Typical features of the putative trypsin-like protein from L. hesperus included residues in the serine proteinase active site (His(89), Asp(139), Ser(229)), conserved cysteine residues for disulfide bridges, residues (Asp(223), Gly(252), Gly(262)) that determine trypsin specificity, and both zymogen signal and activation peptides.     

Type I procollagen carboxyl-terminal proteinase from chick embryo tendons. Purification and characterization

Procollagen carboxyl-terminal proteinase, the enzyme which cleaves the carboxyl-terminal propeptides from type I procollagen, was extensively purified in a yield of 25% from pooled culture media of 17-day-old chick embryo tendons using a procedure which involved chromatography on Green A Dye matrix gel, concanavalin A-Sepharose and heparin-Sepharose, and filtration gels of Sephacryl S-300 and S-200. The purified enzyme is a neutral, Ca2+-dependent proteinase which is inhibited by metal chelators, but not by inhibitors for serine and cysteine proteinases. Calcium in a concentration of 5-10 mM is required for optimal activity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be 97,000-110,000 by gel filtration and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. Other properties of the carboxyl-terminal proteinase are: 1) the Km for the type I procollagen is 96 nM at pH 7.5 and 35 degrees C; 2) the activation energy for the reaction with type I procollagen is 21,000 cal mol-1; 3) amino acid sequencing of the released carboxyl-terminal propeptide indicated the enzyme specifically cleaves an -Ala-Asp- bond in both the pro-alpha 1(I) and pro-alpha 2(I) chains; 4) the enzyme specifically cleaves the carboxyl-terminal propeptides of a homotrimer of pro-alpha 1(I) chains and type II and III procollagens, but it does not cleave type IV procollagen. The results suggest that the enzyme is involved in the processing of type I procollagen in vivo.     

A serine proteinase inhibitor isolated from Tamarindus indica seeds and its effects on the release of human neutrophil elastase

Proteinaceous inhibitors with high inhibitory activities against human neutrophil elastase (HNE) were found in seeds of the Tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica). A serine proteinase inhibitor denoted PG50 was purified using ammonium sulphate and acetone precipitation followed by Sephacryl S-300 and Sephadex G-50 gel filtration chromatographies. Inhibitor PG50 showed a Mr of 14.9 K on Sephadex G-50 calibrated column and a Mr of 11.6 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. PG50 had selective activity while cysteine proteinases (papain and bromelain) and serine proteinases (porcine pancreatic elastase and bovine chymotrypsin) were not inhibited, it was strongly effective against serine proteinases such as bovine trypsin and isolated human neutrophil elastase. The IC50 value was determined to be 55.96 microg.mL-1. PG50 showed neither cytotoxic nor haemolytic activity on human blood cells. After pre-incubation of PG50 with cytochalasin B, the exocytosis of elastase was initiated using PAF and fMLP. PG50 exhibited different inhibition on elastase release by PAF, at 44.6% and on release by fMLP, at 28.4%. These results showed that PG50 preferentially affected elastase release by PAF stimuli and this may indicate selective inhibition on PAF receptors.     

Purification and some properties of two proteinases from Crotalus adamanteus venom that inactivate human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor.

Two proteinases (proteinases I and II) have been purified from Crotalus adamanteus venom to the stage of electrophoretic homogeneity and proteinase II has been crystallized. The proteinase differ slightly in molecular weight and amino acid composition. Both are metalloenzymes requiring Zn2+ or Ca2+, or both; neither requires thiol compounds for activation. The proteinases are free of esterolytic activity against benzoly-L-arginine ethyl ester and benzoyl--tyrosine ethyl ester. Proteinase II cleaves the oxidized B chain of insulin at the bonds Phe1-Val2, His5-Leu6, His10-Leu11, Ala14-Leu15, Leu15-Tyr16, and Tyr-16-Leu17. Digestion of polylsine and polyarginine by proteinase II liberates products ranging from dodecapeptides to hexapeptides. Proteinases I and II catalytically inactive human plasma alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (54,000 daltons). Electrophoretic analysis of the reaction of proteinase II with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor reveals that an inactivated inhibitor species of 50,000 daltons is formed, and a peptide of 4,000 daltons is released. The gradual disappearance of the native inhibitor results in the corresponding loss of inhibitory activity against trypsin and chymotrypsin.     

Purification and characterization of proteinase inhibitors from adzuki beans (Phaseolus angularis).

Two proteinase inhibitors, designated as inhibitors I and II, were purified from adzuki beans (Phaseolus angularis) by chromatographies on DEAE- and CM-cellulose, and gel filtration on a Sephadex G-100 column. Each inhibitor shows unique inhibitory activities. Inhibitor I was a powerful inhibitor of trypsin [EC 3.4.21.4], but essentially not of chymotrypsin ]EC 3.4.21.1]. On the other hand, inhibitor II inhibited chymotrypsin more strongly than trypsin. The molecular weights estimated from the enzyme inhibition were 3,750 and 9,700 for inhibitors I and II, respectively, assuming that the inhibitions were stoichiometric and in 1 : 1 molar ratio. The amino acid compositions of both inhibitors closely resemble those of low molecular weight inhibitors of other leguminous seeds: they contain large amounts of half-cystine, aspartic acid and serine, and little or no hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids. Inhibitor I lacks both tyrosine and tryptophan residues. The molecular weights were calculated to be 7,894 and 8,620 for inhibitors I and II, respectively. The reliability of these molecular weights was confirmed by the sedimentation equilibrium and 6 M guanidine gel filtration methods. On comparison with the values obtained from enzyme inhibition, it was concluded that inhibitor I and two trypsin inhibitory sites on the molecule, whereas inhibitor II had one chymotrypsin and one trypsin inhibitory sites on the molecule.     

Protease inhibitors from the parasitic worm Parascaris equorum

Two proteic inhibitors (I and II) of serine proteases have been purified from the parasitic worm Parascaris equorum by affinity chromatography on immobilized trypsin followed by preparative electrophoresis. They have an apparent relative molecular mass of 9000 and 7000 as determined by gel filtration, a slightly acid isoelectric point (5.5 and 6.1) and a similar amino acid composition. Both inhibitors lack serine, methionine and tyrosine. They bind bovine trypsin extremely strongly with an association constant, Ka, larger than 10(9) M-1, and form a 1:1 complex with this protease. The Ka values for the binding to bovine chymotrypsin are approximately 3.3 X 10(8) M-1 (inhibitor I) and approximately 2 X 10(6) M-1 (inhibitor II). Inhibitor I interacts also with porcine elastase (Ka approximately 5 X 10(7) M-1), while inhibitor II is inactive towards this enzyme.     

Purification of human urinary prokallikrein. Identification of the site of activation by the metalloproteinase thermolysin.

Human urinary active kallikrein and prokallikrein were separated on DEAE-cellulose and octyl-Sepharose columns and both purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography, gel filtration and hydrophobic h.p.l.c. Prokallikrein was monitored during purification by trypsin activation followed by determination of both amidase and kininogenase activity. After trypsin activation, purified prokallikrein had a specific kininogenase activity of 39.4 micrograms of bradykinin equivalent/min per mg and amidase activity of 16.5 mumol/min per mg with D-Val-Leu-Arg-7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin. Purified active kallikrein had a specific activity of 47 micrograms of bradykinin/min per mg. The molecular mass of prokallikrein was 48 kDa on electrophoresis and 53 kDa on gel filtration whereas active kallikrein gave values of 46 kDa and 53 kDa respectively. Antisera to active and prokallikrein were obtained. In double immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis, antiserum to active kallikrein reacted with active and pro-kallikrein. Antiserum to prokallikrein contained antibodies to determinants not found in active kallikrein, presumably due to the presence of the activation peptide in the proenzyme. Human prokallikrein can be activated by thermolysin, trypsin and human plasma kallikrein. Activation of 50% of the prokallikrein (1.35 microM) was achieved in 30 min with 25 nM-thermolysin, 78 nM-trypsin or 180 nM-human plasma kallikrein. Thus thermolysin was the most effective activator. Thermolysin activated prokallikrein by releasing active kallikrein with N-terminal Ile1-Val2. Thus human tissue (glandular) prokallikrein can be activated by two types of enzymes: serine proteinases, which cleave at the C-terminus of basic amino acids, and by a metalloproteinase that cleaves at the N-terminus of hydrophobic amino acids.     

Evolution of alpha 2-macroglobulin. The purification and characterization of a protein homologous with human alpha 2-macroglobulin from plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) plasma.

A papain-binding protein (PB-protein) was purified to homogeneity from the plasma of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.). PB-protein inhibited the activity of trypsin and pancreatic elastase (serine proteinases), thermolysin (a metalloproteinase) and papain (a cysteine proteinase). Presaturation of PB-protein with trypsin prevented the subsequent inhibition of thermolysin, and vice versa. Only catalytically active endopeptidases were bound by PB-protein. The catalytic activity of trypsin bound by PB-protein was inhibited by 95% against an insoluble protein substrate, but only by 38% against a low-molecular-weight synthetic substrate. The remaining activity of the bound trypsin was partially protected against further inhibition by soya-bean trypsin inhibitor. Trypsin bound by PB-protein showed a decrease of 67% in its reactivity with antibodies. The inhibitory activity of PB-protein was inactivated at pH 8.0 by methylamine (0.2M) or dithiothreitol (1 mM). The inhibition of proteinases by plaice PB-protein shows the distinctive characteristics of inhibition by human alpha 2-macroglobulin, and it is concluded that the plaice protein is a homologue of the human macroglobulin.     

Purification and characterization of a new type lactose-binding Ulex europaeus lectin by affinity chromatography

A new type lactose-binding lectin was purified from extracts of Ulex europaeus seeds by affinity chromatography on a column of galactose-Sepharose 4B, followed by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. This lectin, designated as Ulex europaeus lectin III (UEA-III), was found to be inhibited by lactose. The dimeric lectin is a glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 70,000 Da; it consists of two apparently identical subunits of a molecular mass of 34,000 Da. Compositional analysis showed that this lectin contains 30% carbohydrate and a large amount of aspartic acid, serine and valine, but no sulfur-containing amino acids. The N-terminal amino-acid sequences of L-fucose-binding Ulex europaeus lectin I (UEA-I) and di-N-acetylchitobiose-binding Ulex europaeus lectin II (UEA-II), both of which we have already purified and characterized, and that of UEA-III were determined and compared.     

The interaction between some serine proteinases and horse leucocyte inhibitor

Horse blood leucocyte cytosol exhibits a broad inhibitory activity against serine proteinases. The purified inhibitor was exposed to investigated enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastases and serine proteinase from S. aureus) for variable time and the products were analyzed by gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. The molar ratio I:E, association rate constants k on and inhibition constants Ki for the enzymes and inhibitor were determined. The examined elastases form stable, stoichiometric complexes with the inhibitor (Ki less than 10(-10) M), and do not undergo proteolytic degradation during 30 min incubation at 20 degrees C even at the 2-fold molar excess of the proteinases. The reactions with elastases are extremely rapid (k on greater than 10(7) M-1 s-1) and are completed within one second whereas similar reactions with chymotrypsin and trypsin are much slower (k on = 3 X 10(5) M-1 s-5 and 5 X 10(2) M-1 s-1, respectively). Serine proteinase from S. aureus neither react nor inactivates the investigated inhibitor. The complexes of the inhibitor with trypsin and chymotrypsin are digested even at a molar ratio I:E = 2:1. All these observations point out that the inhibitor from horse leucocyte cytosol is a specific and effective inhibitor of elastases.     

Serine proteinases of lower vertebrates

Recent data on the effect of serine proteinases of lower vertebrates are generalized. Hydrolysis specificity and kinetics of different synthetic substrates, dependence of the activity of enzymes on pH, their irreversible inhibition by chloromethyl ketones of amino acids and peptides as well as high-molecular proteinase inhibitors are considered in detail. The data testify to the fact that chymotrypsins and trypsins of higher vertebrates and serine proteinases of lower vertebrates act as an acid-base catalysis. Enzymes in the pyloric cacca of fishes are in the state of proenzymes and are transformed into an active form with the aid of their own proteolytic factors. The esterase and proteolytic activity of fish proteinases is concentrated in the same active site and reaches the highest values at pH 7,8. New data are presented on particularities of the lower vertebrate proteinases, on the similarity and differences in their specificity. A distinct difference is shown in the nature of the binding site of the active centre in a number of serine proteinases of fishes as compared to chymotrypsin and trypsin of higher vertebrates.     

Kallikrein-like proteinase from bushmaster snake venom

A kallikrein-like proteinase of Lachesis muta muta (bushmaster) venom, designated LV-Ka, was purified by gel filtration and anion exchange chromatographies. Physicochemical studies indicated that the purified enzyme is a 33 kDa monomeric glycoprotein, the Mr of which fell to 28 kDa after deglycosylation with PNGase F. Approximately 77% of the protein sequence was determined by sequencing the various fragments derived from digestions with endoproteases. The partial sequence obtained suggests that LV-Ka is of a similar size to other serine proteinases (i.e., approximately 234 amino acid residues). Sequence studies on the NH2-terminal region of the protein indicate that LV-Ka shares a high degree of sequence homology with the kallikrein-like enzymes EI and EII from Crotalus atrox, with crotalase from Crotalus adamanteus and significant homology with other serine proteinases from snake venoms and vertebrate serum enzymes. LV-Ka showed kallikrein-like activity, releasing bradikinin from kininogen as evidenced by guinea pig bioassay. In addition, intravenous injection of the proteinase (0.8 microg/g) was shown to lower blood pressure in experimental rats. In vitro, the isolated proteinase was shown to have neither fibrin(ogeno)lytic activity nor coagulant effect. LV-Ka was active upon the kallikrein substrates S-2266 and S-2302 (specific activity=13.0 and 31.5 U/mg, respectively; crude venom=0.25 and 6.0 U/mg) but had no proteolytic effect on dimethylcasein and insulin B chain. Its enzymatic activity was inhibited by NPGB and PMSF, indicating that the enzyme is a serine proteinase. Interestingly, one of the other reactions catalyzed by plasma kallikrein, the activation of plasminogen was one of the activities exhibited by LV-Ka.