Fibrin autography of plasminogen activator by electrophoretic transfer into fibrin agar gels

An electrophoretic modification of the conventional fibrin autography that can be used for the detection of plasminogen activators (urokinase type and tissue type) and fibrin-degrading enzymes in complex biological fluids is described. After separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the proteins and the substrate plasminogen are transferred electrophoretically into the fibrin indicator gel, resulting in an efficient transfer of proteinases as well as high resolution and contrast of fibrinolytic zones caused by plasminogen activator activity. Picogram amounts of human urokinase type plasminogen activator (about 0.002 International Unit) are still detectable. The technique is also applicable to reversed fibrin autography for plasminogen activator inhibitors.