Plasminogen activation by antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1C. Properties and mechanism of reaction

In review the results of investigation of plasminogen(Pg) activation by antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1c have been presented. Antigenic determinant of IV-1c was localized in Val709-Gly718 site of Pg protease domain. IV-1c completely inhibited the Pg activation by streptokinase, but increased the rate of Pg activation by t-PA and urokinase. Catalytic properties of plasmin in complex with IV-1c were studied. It was found that IV-1c induced catalytic activity in Pg-IV-1c complex. It was shown that Pg and IV-1c interacts in complex by two-centre mechanism: IV-1c binds with Pg by paratope and by N-terminal lysine of gamma-chain and Pg binds to IV-1c by one of the lysine binding sites and by V709-G718 site of protease domain. The influence of pH, temperature, 1.5 mM Ca2+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Co2+, Ni2+ cations and 10 mM Cl-, F-, Ac-, SO4(2-), HPO4(2-) anions on lag and fast phases of Pg activation by VI-1c was investigated. It was revealed that Val709-Gly718 site was determining in Pg activation by IV-1c and streptokinase.     

Features of plasminogen activation in a complex with antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1C

Antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1c (IV-1c) with antigenic determinant in V709-G718 site of plasminogen (Pg) protease domain (Druzhina N.N. et al. 1996.) can induce catalytic activity in Pg moiety of the complex. Catalytic activity appeared in Pg-IV-1c complex after approximately 2 h lag-period. Rate of Lys-Pg activation was higher then that of Glu-Pg. Amidolytic activity of Pg-SK equimolar complex was completely inhibited by IV-1c at 2:1 = Pg:IV-1c molar ratio. At constant Glu-Pg concentration increasing of the IV-1c concentration to equimolar of Pg accelerated Pg activation. Subsequent increase of IV-1c concentration inhibited the Pg activation sharply. Increasing of Glu-Pg concentration at constant IV-1c one did not inhibit Glu-Pg activation in Pg-IV-1c complex. The rate dependence of Pg activation from Glu-Pg-IV-1c complex concentration curve had bell-shaped form with maximum at 500 nM. Electrophoretic analysis of components of Glu-Pg-IV-1c complex showed that Lys-Pg and Lys-Pm were not observed at 100 nM complex concentration for 6 h period of reaction. At 680 nM concentration Glu-Pg-IV-1c complex these forms appeared in initial moments of reaction activation after lag-period. Kinetic scheme and peculiarities of Pg activation reaction in Pg-IV-1c complex are discussed.     

Catalytic properties of Glu-plasminogen in a complex with monoclonal antibody IV-1c

Earlier it was shown that anti-plasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1c was able to induce a catalytic activity in plasminogen. IV-1c activates plasminogen by binding to plasminogen protease domain with antigen binding site and to lysine-binding sites by C-terminal lysines of gamma-chains. The effect of plasminogen and IV-1c concentration on rate of catalytic activity induce in Pg-IV-1c complex has been investigated. It was found that IV-1c inhibited an activation reaction at concentrations higher of equimolar to Glu-Pg. Glu-Pg did not inhibit reaction of activation in higher to IV-1c concentrations. Role of IV-1c gamma-chain C-terminal lysine concentration in Pg activation is discussed.     

Val709-Glu724 streptokinase binding site on plasminogen interacts with streptokinase sequence Thr361-Arg372 during plasminogen-streptokinase complex formation

Localization of the human plasminogen binding site on the streptokinase of complementary Val709-Glu724 plasminogen being crucial one in providing for the plasminogen streptokinase complex activity has been investigated. Experiments were performed with streptokinase fragments and synthetic decapeptides, antiplasminogen monoclonal anti-body IV-1c and synthetic peptide corresponding to Val709-Gly718 sequence of human plasminogen. It was found that plasminogen sequence Val709-Glu724 interacted with Thr361-Arg372 sequence of strepto-kinase.     

Degradation of streptokinase and the catalytic properties of the plasmin-streptokinase complex

Streptokinase (SK) interacts with human plasminogen (Pg) or plasmin (Pm) with formation of Pg-SK or Pm-SK complex. Pm-SK complex manifests a fibrinolytic, amidolytic and Pg activator activity. SK in complex with Pm isn't stable and so capable to be hydrolysed rapidly. We investigated a correlation between molecular form of SK and catalytic properties of equimolar Pm-SK complex during preincubation at 20 degrees C. It was found out that amidolytic activity of Pm-SK complex was not changing for 5 hours and decreased to the initial Pm value after 24 hours. During this time alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP) has any effect on amidolytic activity of the complex. Fibrinolytic activity of Pm-SK complex makes up 20% of the initial Pm value and wasn't changing within the investigated period. Pg activator activity was decreasing rapidly to 30-40% of the initial one within few minutes from the moment of Pm-SK complex formation. It was 10-20% of that initial after 24 hours. The decrease in Pg activator activity of Pm-SK complex correlated with the initial very rapid conversion of 47 kDa SK to 36 kDa SK within few minutes and following more slow conversion of SK in 31, 25 and 15 kDa fragments after 5 hours. alpha 2-AP didn't influence on the Pg activator activity of Pm-SK complex but eliminated its fibrinolytic activity completely. It was supposed that alpha 2-AP inhibited fibrinolytic activity of Pm-SK complex similarly to 6-aminohexanoic acid by preventing Pm-SK complex binding to fibrin polymer.     

Deletion of Ile1 changes the mechanism of streptokinase: evidence for the molecular sexuality hypothesis

Plasminogen (Plgn) is usually activated by proteolytic cleavage of Arg561-Val562. The new N-terminal amino group of Val562 forms a salt bridge with Asp740, creating the active protease plasmin (Pm). However, streptokinase (SK) binds to Plgn, generating an active protease in a poorly understood, nonproteolytic process. We hypothesized that the N-terminus of SK, Ile1, substitutes for the N-terminal Val562 of Pm, forming an analogous salt bridge with Asp740. SK initially forms an inactive complex with Plgn, which subsequently rearranges to create an active complex; this rearrangement is rate limiting at 4 degrees C. SK.Plgn efficiently hydrolyzes amide substrates at 4 degrees C, although DeltaIle1-SK. Plgn has no amidolytic activity. DeltaIle1-SK prevents formation of wild-type SK.Plgn. These results indicate that DeltaIle1-SK forms the initial inactive complex with plasminogen, but cannot form the active complex. However, when the experiment is performed at 37 degrees C, amidolytic activity is observed when DeltaIle1-SK is added to plasminogen. SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrates that the amidolytic activity results from the formation of DeltaIle1-SK.Pm. To further demonstrate that the activity of DeltaIle1-SK requires the conversion of Plgn to Pm, we characterized the reaction of SK with a mutant microplasminogen, Arg561Ala-microPlgn, that cannot be converted to microplasmin. Amidolytic activity is observed when Arg561Ala-microPlgn is incubated with wild-type SK at 37 degrees C; however, no amidolytic activity is observed in the presence of DeltaIle1-SK. These observations demonstrate that the amidolytic activity of DeltaIle1-SK at 37 degrees C requires the conversion of Plgn to Pm. Our findings indicate that Ile1 of SK is required for the nonproteolytic activation of Plgn by SK and are consistent with the hypothesis that Ile1 of SK substitutes for Val562 of Pm.     

Streptokinase binds to human plasmin with high affinity, perturbs the plasmin active site, and induces expression of a substrate recognition exosite for plasminogen

Binding of streptokinase (SK) to plasminogen (Pg) conformationally activates the zymogen and converts both Pg and plasmin (Pm) into specific Pg activators. The interaction of SK with Pm and its relationship to the mechanism of Pg activation were evaluated in equilibrium binding studies with active site-labeled fluorescent Pm derivatives and in kinetic studies of SK-induced changes in the catalytic specificity of Pm. SK bound to fluorescein-labeled and native Pm with dissociation constants of 11 +/- 2 pm and 12 +/- 4 pm, which represented a 1,000-10,000-fold higher affinity than determined for Pg. Stoichiometric binding of SK to native Pm was followed by generation of a two-fragment form of SK cleaved at Lys(59) (SK'), which exhibited an indistinguishable affinity for labeled Pm, while a truncated, SK(55-414) species had a 120-360-fold reduced affinity. Binding of SK to native Pm was accompanied by a >50-fold enhancement in specificity for activation of Pg, which was paralleled by a surprising 2.6-10-fold loss of specificity of Pm for 8 of 11 tripeptide-pNA substrates. Further studies with Pm labeled at the active site with 2-anilinonaphthalene-6-sulfonic acid demonstrated directly that binding of SK to Pm resulted in expression of a new substrate binding exosite for Pg on the SK.Pm complex. It is concluded that SK activates Pg in part by preferential binding to the active zymogen conformation. High affinity binding of SK to Pm enhances Pg substrate specificity principally through emergence of a substrate recognition exosite.     

Full Time Course Kinetics of the Streptokinase-Plasminogen Activation Pathway

Our previously hypothesized mechanism for the pathway of plasminogen (Pg) activation by streptokinase (SK) was tested by the use of full time course kinetics. Three discontinuous chromogenic substrate initial rate assays were developed with different quenching conditions that enabled quantitation of the time courses of Pg depletion, plasmin (Pm) formation, transient formation of the conformationally activated SK·Pg* catalytic complex intermediate, formation of the SK·Pm catalytic complex, and the free concentrations of Pg, Pm, and SK. Analysis of full time courses of Pg activation by five concentrations of SK along with activity-based titrations of SK·Pg* and SK·Pm formation yielded rate and dissociation constants within 2-fold of those determined previously by continuous measurement of parabolic chromogenic substrate hydrolysis and fluorescence-based equilibrium binding. The results obtained with orthogonal assays provide independent support for a mechanism in which the conformationally activated SK·Pg* complex catalyzes an initial cycle of Pg proteolytic conversion to Pm that acts as a trigger. Higher affinity binding of the formed Pm to SK outcompetes Pg binding, terminating the trigger cycle and initiating the bullet catalytic cycle by the SK·Pm complex that converts the residual Pg into Pm. The new assays can be adapted to quantitate SK-Pg activation in the context of SK- or Pg-directed inhibitors, effectors, and SK allelic variants. To support this, we show for the first time with an assay specific for SK·Pg* that fibrinogen forms a ternary SK·Pg*·fibrinogen complex, which assembles with 200-fold enhanced SK·Pg* affinity, signaled by a perturbation of the SK·Pg* active site.     

Binding of the COOH-terminal lysine residue of streptokinase to plasmin(ogen) kringles enhances formation of the streptokinase.plasmin(ogen) catalytic complexes

Streptokinase (SK) activates human fibrinolysis by inducing non-proteolytic activation of the serine proteinase zymogen, plasminogen (Pg), in the SK.Pg* catalytic complex. SK.Pg* proteolytically activates Pg to plasmin (Pm). SK-induced Pg activation is enhanced by lysine-binding site (LBS) interactions with kringles on Pg and Pm, as evidenced by inhibition of the reactions by the lysine analogue, 6-aminohexanoic acid. Equilibrium binding analysis and [Lys]Pg activation kinetics with wild-type SK, carboxypeptidase B-treated SK, and a COOH-terminal Lys414 deletion mutant (SKDeltaK414) demonstrated a critical role for Lys414 in the enhancement of [Lys]Pg and [Lys]Pm binding and conformational [Lys]Pg activation. The LBS-independent affinity of SK for [Glu]Pg was unaffected by deletion of Lys414. By contrast, removal of SK Lys414 caused 19- and 14-fold decreases in SK affinity for [Lys]Pg and [Lys]Pm binding in the catalytic mode, respectively. In kinetic studies of the coupled conformational and proteolytic activation of [Lys]Pg, SKDeltaK414 exhibited a corresponding 17-fold affinity decrease for formation of the SKDeltaK414.[Lys]Pg* complex. SKDeltaK414 binding to [Lys]Pg and [Lys]Pm and conformational [Lys]Pg activation were LBS-independent, whereas [Lys]Pg substrate binding and proteolytic [Lys]Pm generation remained LBS-dependent. We conclude that binding of SK Lys414 to [Lys]Pg and [Lys]Pm kringles enhances SK.[Lys]Pg* and SK.[Lys]Pm catalytic complex formation. This interaction is distinct structurally and functionally from LBS-dependent Pg substrate recognition by these complexes.     

Functional roles of streptokinase C-terminal flexible peptide in active site formation and substrate recognition in plasminogen activation

The bacterial protein streptokinase (SK) activates human plasminogen (Pg) into the fibrinolytic protease plasmin (Pm). Roughly 40 residues from the SK C-terminal domain are mobile in the crystal structure of SK complexed with the catalytic domain of Pm, and the functions of this C-tail remain elusive. To better define its roles in Pg activation, we constructed and characterized three C-terminal truncation mutants containing SK residues 1-378, 1-386, and 1-401, respectively. They exhibit gradually reduced amidolytic activity and Pg-activator activity, as well as marginally decreased binding affinity toward Pg, as more of the C-terminus is deleted. As compared with full-length SK, the shortest construct, SK(1-378), exhibits an 80% decrease in amidolytic activity (k(cat)/K(M)), an 80% decrease in Pg-activator activity, and a 30% increase in the dissociation constant toward the Pg catalytic domain. The C-terminal truncation mutations did not attenuate the resistance of the SK-Pm complex to alpha(2)-antiplasmin. Attempts at using a purified C-tail peptide to rescue the activity loss of the truncation mutants failed, suggesting that the integrity of the SK C-terminal peptide is important for the full function of SK.     

Streptokinase triggers conformational activation of plasminogen through specific interactions of the amino-terminal sequence and stabilizes the active zymogen conformation

Cleavage of Arg(561)-Val(562) in plasminogen (Pg) generates plasmin (Pm) through a classical activation mechanism triggered by an insertion of the new amino terminus into a binding pocket in the Pg catalytic domain. Streptokinase (SK) circumvents this process and activates Pg through a unique nonproteolytic mechanism postulated to be initiated by the intrusion of Ile(1) of SK in place of Val(562). This hypothesis was evaluated in equilibrium binding and kinetic studies of Pg activation with an SK mutant lacking Ile(1) (SK(2--414)). SK(2--414) retained the affinity of native SK for fluorescein-labeled [Lys]Pg and [Lys]Pm but induced no detectable conformational activation of Pg. The activity of SK(2--414) was partially restored by the peptides SK(1--2), SK(1--5), SK(1--10), and SK(1--15), whereas Pg(562--569) peptides were much less effective. Active site-specific fluorescence labeling demonstrated directly that the active catalytic site was formed on the Pg zymogen by the combination of SK(1--10) and SK(2--414), whereas sequence-scrambled SK(1-10) was inactive. The characterization of SK(1--10) containing single Ala substitutions demonstrated the sequence specificity of the interaction. SK(1--10) did not restore activity to the further truncated mutant SK(55-414), which was correlated with the loss of binding affinity of SK(55--414) for labeled [Lys]Pm but not for [Lys]Pg. The studies support a mechanism for conformational activation in which the insertion of Ile(1) of SK into the Pg amino-terminal binding cleft occurs through sequence-specific interactions of the first 10 SK residues. This event and the preferentially higher affinity of SK(2--414) for the activated proteinase domain of Pm are thought to function cooperatively to trigger the conformational change and stabilize the active zymogen conformation.     

Enhanced plasminogen activation by staphylokinase in the presence of streptokinase beta/betagamma domains: plasminogen kringles play a role

Presence of isolated beta or betagamma domains of streptokinase (SK) increased the catalytic activity of staphylokinase (SAK)-plasmin (Pm) complex up to 60%. In contrast, fusion of SK beta or betagamma domains with the C-terminal end of SAK drastically reduced the catalytic activity of the activator complex. The enhancement effect mediated by beta or betagamma domain on Pg activator activity of SAK-Pm complex was reduced greatly (45%) in the presence of isolated kringles of Pg, whereas, kringles did not change cofactor activity of SAK fusion proteins (carrying beta or betagamma domains) significantly. When catalytic activity of SAK-microPm (catalytic domain of Pm lacking kringle domains) complex was examined in the presence of isolated beta and betagamma domains, no enhancement effect on Pg activation was observed, whereas, enzyme complex formed between microplasmin and SAK fusion proteins (SAKbeta and SAKbetagamma) displayed 50-70% reduction in their catalytic activity. The present study, thus, suggests that the exogenously present beta and betagamma interact with Pg/Pm via kringle domains and elevate catalytic activity of SAK-Pm activator complex resulting in enhanced substrate Pg activation. Fusion of beta or betagamma domains with SAK might alter these intermolecular interactions resulting in attenuated functional activity of SAK.     

Pro42 and Val45 of staphylokinase modulate intermolecular interactions of His43-Tyr44 pair and specificity of staphylokinase-plasmin activator complex

Staphylokinase (SAK) forms a 1:1 stoichiometric complex with plasmin (Pm) and changes its substrate specificity to create a plasminogen (Pg) activator complex. The His(43)-Tyr(44) pair of SAK resides within the active site cleft of the partner Pm and generates intermolecular contacts to confer Pg activator ability to the SAK-Pm bimolecular complex. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling studies unravelled that mutation at 42nd or 45th positions of SAK specifically disrupts cation-pi interaction of His(43) with Trp(215) of partner Pm within the active site, whereas pi-pi interaction of Tyr(44) with Trp(215) remain energetically favoured.     

Intermolecular interactions in staphylokinase-plasmin(ogen) bimolecular complex: function of His43 and Tyr44

Staphylokinase (SAK) forms a 1:1 stoichiometric complex with human plasmin (Pm) and switches its substrate specificity to generate a plasminogen (Pg) activator complex. Site-directed mutagenesis of SAKHis43 and SAKTyr44 demonstrated the crucial requirement of a positively charged and an aromatic residue, respectively, at these positions for optimal functioning of SAK-Pm activator complex. Molecular modeling studies further revealed the role of these residues in making cation-pi and pi-pi interactions with Trp215 of Pm and thus establishing the crucial intermolecular contacts within the active site cleft of the activator complex for the cofactor activity of SAK.     

Resolution of conformational activation in the kinetic mechanism of plasminogen activation by streptokinase

Streptokinase (SK) activates plasminogen (Pg) by specific binding and nonproteolytic expression of the Pg catalytic site, initiating Pg proteolysis to form the fibrinolytic proteinase, plasmin (Pm). The SK-induced conformational activation mechanism was investigated in quantitative kinetic and equilibrium binding studies. Progress curves of Pg activation by SK monitored by chromogenic substrate hydrolysis were parabolic, with initial rates (v(1)) that indicated no transient species and subsequent rate increases (v(2)). The v(1) dependence on SK concentration for [Glu]Pg and [Lys]Pg was hyperbolic with dissociation constants corresponding to those determined in fluorescence-based binding studies for the native Pg species, identifying v(1) as rapid SK binding and conformational activation. Comparison of [Glu]Pg and [Lys]Pg activation showed an approximately 12-fold higher affinity of SK for [Lys]Pg that was lysine-binding site dependent and no such dependence for [Glu]Pg. Stopped-flow kinetics of SK binding to fluorescently labeled Pg demonstrated at least two fast steps in the conformational activation pathway. Characterization of the specificity of the conformationally activated SK.[Lys]Pg* complex for tripeptide-p-nitroanilide substrates demonstrated 5-18- and 10-130-fold reduced specificity (k(cat)/K(m)) compared with SK.Pm and Pm, respectively, with differences in K(m) and k(cat) dependent on the P1 residue. The results support a kinetic mechanism in which SK binding and reversible conformational activation occur in a rapid equilibrium, multistep process.     

Effects of deletion of streptokinase residues 48-59 on plasminogen activation

Streptokinase (SK) is a thrombolytic agent widely used for the clinical treatment of clotting disorders such as heart attack. The treatment is based on the ability of SK to bind plasminogen (Pg) or plasmin (Pm), forming complexes that proteolytically activate other Pg molecules to Pm, which carries out fibrinolysis. SK contains three major domains. The N-terminal domain, SKalpha, provides the complex with substrate recognition towards Pg. SKalpha contains a unique mobile loop, residues 45-70, absent in the corresponding domains of other bacterial Pg activators. To study the roles of this loop, we deleted 12 residues in this loop in both full-length SK and the SKalpha fragment. Kinetic data indicate that this loop participates in the recognition of substrate Pg, but does not function in the active site formation in the activator complex. Two crystal structures of the deletion mutant of SKalpha (SKalpha(delta)) complexed with the protease domain of Pg were determined. While the structure of SKalpha(delta) is essentially the same as this domain in full-length SK, the mode of SK-Pg interaction was however different from a previously observed structure. Even though mutagenesis studies indicated that the current complex represents a minor interacting form in solution, the binding to SKalpha(delta) triggered similar conformational changes in the Pg active site in both crystal forms.     

Plasmin binding to the plasminogen receptor enhances catalytic efficiency and activates the receptor for subsequent ligand binding.

Specific cell surface receptors for plasminogen (Pg) are expressed by a wide variety of cell types. The colocalization of receptors for Pg and its activators restricts plasmin (Pm) activity to specific sites and serves to promote fibrinolysis and local Pg activation. These studies show that both Pg and Pm bind to cellular receptors on monocytoid U937 cells. Limited Pm pretreatment of the cells enhances total Pg binding and alters the kinetics of Pm binding. Furthermore, surface-bound Pg is converted to Pm in the absence of exogenous activators. Cell-bound Pm exhibits a 12-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) relative to Pm free in solution. These studies demonstrate that Pg/Pm receptor occupancy can be regulated by Pm in the microenvironment and may play a significant regulatory role in fibrinolysis and extravascular proteolysis.     

Epsilon amino caproic acid inhibits streptokinase-plasminogen activator complex formation and substrate binding through kringle-dependent mechanisms

Lysine side chains induce conformational changes in plasminogen (Pg) that regulate the process of fibrinolysis or blood clot dissolution. A lysine side-chain mimic, epsilon amino caproic acid (EACA), enhances the activation of Pg by urinary-type and tissue-type Pg activators but inhibits Pg activation induced by streptokinase (SK). Our studies of the mechanism of this inhibition revealed that EACA (IC(50) 10 microM) also potently blocked amidolytic activity by SK and Pg at doses nearly 10000-fold lower than that required to inhibit the amidolytic activity of plasmin. Different Pg fragments were used to assess the role of the kringles in mediating the inhibitory effects of EACA: mini-Pg which lacks kringles 1-4 of Glu-Pg and micro-Pg which lacks all kringles and contains only the catalytic domain. SK bound with similar affinities to Glu-Pg (K(A) = 2.3 x 10(9) M(-1)) and to mini-Pg (K(A) = 3.8 x 10(9) M(-)(1)) but with significantly lower affinity to micro-Pg (K(A) = 6 x 10(7) M(-)(1)). EACA potently inhibited the binding of Glu-Pg to SK (K(i) = 5.7 microM), but was less potent (K(i) = 81.1 microM) for inhibiting the binding of mini-Pg to SK and had no significant inhibitory effects on the binding of micro-Pg and SK. In assays simulating substrate binding, EACA also potently inhibited the binding of Glu-Pg to the SK-Glu-Pg activator complex, but had negligible effects on micro-Pg binding. Taken together, these studies indicate that EACA inhibits Pg activation by blocking activator complex formation and substrate binding, through a kringle-dependent mechanism. Thus, in addition to interactions between SK and the protease domain, interactions between SK and the kringle domain(s) play a key role in Pg activation.     

Streptokinase binds preferentially to the extended conformation of plasminogen through lysine binding site and catalytic domain interactions

Binding of streptokinase (SK) to plasminogen (Pg) activates the zymogen conformationally and initiates its conversion into the fibrinolytic proteinase, plasmin (Pm). Equilibrium binding studies of SK interactions with a homologous series of catalytic site-labeled fluorescent Pg and Pm analogues were performed to resolve the contributions of lysine binding site interactions, associated changes between extended and compact conformations of Pg, and activation of the proteinase domain to the affinity for SK. SK bound to fluorescein-labeled [Glu]Pg(1) and [Lys]Pg(1) with dissociation constants of 624 +/- 112 and 38 +/- 5 nM, respectively, whereas labeled [Lys]Pm(1) bound with a 57000-fold tighter dissociation constant of 11 +/- 2 pM. Saturation of lysine binding sites with 6-aminohexanoic acid had no effect on SK binding to labeled [Glu]Pg(1), but weakened binding to labeled [Lys]Pg(1) and [Lys]Pm(1) 31- and 20-fold, respectively. At low Cl(-) concentrations, where [Glu]Pg assumes the extended conformation without occupation of lysine binding sites, a 23-fold increase in the affinity of SK for labeled [Glu]Pg(1) was observed, which was quantitatively accounted for by expression of new lysine binding site interactions. The results support the conclusion that the SK affinity for the fluorescent Pg and Pm analogues is enhanced 13-16-fold by conversion of labeled [Glu]Pg to the extended conformation of the [Lys]Pg derivative as a result of lysine binding site interactions, and is enhanced 3100-3500-fold further by the increased affinity of SK for the activated proteinase domain. The results imply that binding of SK to [Glu]Pg results in transition of [Glu]Pg to an extended conformation in an early event in the SK activation mechanism.     

Differential interactions of rabbit plasma alpha-1-antiproteinases S and F with porcine trypsin

Two major forms of rabbit plasma alpha-1-antiproteinase, S and F, were separated by affinity chromatography on Red Sepharose, and their modes of interaction with porcine trypsin were studied. The S form interacted with trypsin much more slowly than the F form, and the resulting complex partially retained the amidolytic and proteolytic activities towards benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide and remazol brilliant blue hide powder, respectively. This S form-trypsin complex also prevented the inactivation of bound trypsin by soybean trypsin inhibitor. In marked contrast, an equimolar complex of trypsin and the F form retained neither amidolytic nor proteolytic activity. These results suggest that the F form blocks the active site of trypsin while the S form does not bind directly to the active site, thereby preserving the catalytic potential of trypsin. No similar interaction was observed, however, between the S form and either bovine chymotrypsin or porcine pancreatic elastase. Both the S and F forms inactivated these proteinases in a stoichiometric manner with differing inhibitor/proteinase binding ratios. The S form showed about twofold greater capacity to inhibit elastase than the F form, whereas the reverse was the case for chymotrypsin.