Kinetics Of Plasminogen Activation Research Articles

Function of the central domain of streptokinase in substrate plasminogen docking and processing revealed by site-directed mutagenesis.

The possible role of the central beta-domain (residues 151-287) of streptokinase (SK) was probed by site-specifically altering two charged residues at a time to alanines in a region (residues 230-290) previously identified by Peptide Walking to play a key role in plasminogen (PG) activation. These mutants were then screened for altered ability to activate equimolar "partner" human PG, or altered interaction with substrate PG resulting in an overall compromised capability for substrate PG processing. Of the eight initial alanine-linker mutants of SK, one mutant, viz. SK(KK256.257AA) (SK-D1), showed a roughly 20-fold reduction in PG activator activity in comparison to wild-type SK expressed in Escherichia coli (nSK). Five other mutants were as active as nSK, with two [SK(RE248.249AA) and SK(EK281.282AA), referred to as SK(C) and SK(H), respectively] showing specific activities approximately one-half and two-thirds, respectively, that of nSK. Unlike SK(C) and SK(H), however, SK(D1) showed an extended initial delay in the kinetics of PG activation. These features were drastically accentuated when the charges on the two Lys residues at positions 256 and 257 of nSK were reversed, to obtain SK(KK256.257EE) [SK(D2)]. This mutant showed a PG activator activity approximately 10-fold less than that of SK(D1). Remarkably, inclusion of small amounts of human plasmin (PN) in the PG activation reactions of SK(D2) resulted in a dramatic, PN dose-dependent rejuvenation of its PG activation capability, indicating that it required pre-existing PN to form a functional activator since it could not effect active site exposure in partner PG on its own, a conclusion further confirmed by its inability to show a "burst" of p-nitrophenol release in the presence of equimolar human PG and p-nitrophenyl guanidino benzoate. The steady-state kinetic parameters for HPG activation of its 1:1 complex with human PN revealed that although it could form a highly functional activator once "supplied" with a mature active site, the Km for PG was increased nearly eightfold in comparison to that of nSK-PN. SK mutants carrying simultaneous two- and three-site charge-cluster alterations, viz., SK(RE24249AA:EK281.282AA) [SK(CH)], SK(EK272.273AA;EK281.282AA) [SK(FH)], and SK(RE248.249AA;EK272.273AA:EK281.282AA+ ++) [SK(CFH)], showed additive/synergistic influence of multiple charge-cluster mutations on HPG activation when compared to the respective "single-site" mutants, with the "triple-site" mutant [SK(CFH)] showing absolutely no detectable HPG activation ability. Nevertheless, like the other constructs, the double- and triple-charge cluster mutants retained a native like affinity for complexation with partner PG. Their overall structure also, as judged by far-ultraviolet circular dichroism, was closely similar to that of nSK. These results provide the first experimental evidence for a direct assistance by the SK beta-domain in the docking and processing of substrate PG by the activator complex, a facet not readily evident probably because of the flexibility of this domain in the recent X-ray crystal structure of the SK-plasmin light chain complex.

Plasminogen activation on the cell surface

The plasminogen activation system appears to be widely involved in many biological processes in health and disease, but the regulation of plasmin generation or the mechanisms of stimulation by cell surface receptors are not well understood. Cell surface plasminogen activation requires binding sites for plasminogen substrate and activator enzyme before enhancement of plasmin generation rate is observed. The cell surface moieties involved in binding these reactants appear to be a mixed group of proteins and other molecules, many of which have been extensively investigated. The binding of plasminogen in particular is characterized by heterogeneous receptor molecules, present in high number but generally with low affinity for plasminogen. The low affinity of the interaction, with Kd values around 10(-6) M, presents considerable technical difficulties when studying and quantitating plasminogen binding to cells or isolated receptors. Studying plasminogen activation kinetics in the presence of cells also presents technical difficulties and raises difficult questions on interpretation of results. However, approaches developed to study enzyme activation systems in other areas of hemostasis may also be applied to the problems associated with pericellular proteolysis. Models should be developed that match In vitro experimental data and help us understand the meaning of kinetic constants derived from these systems. In this way it should be possible to better understand the regulation of plasminogen activation around the cell under normal conditions and in a variety of disease states where cell-associated plasminogen activation is believed to be up-regulated. Ultimately, a sound understanding of theses regulatory mechanisms will enable us to devise strategies for modulating proteolytic activity, test these approaches in well designed In vitro systems and relate these results to the in vivo situation.

Plasminogen activation on the cell surface.

The plasminogen activation system appears to be widely involved in many biological processes in health and disease, but the regulation of plasmin generation or the mechanisms of stimulation by cell surface receptors are not well understood. Cell surface plasminogen activation requires binding sites for plasminogen substrate and activator enzyme before enhancement of plasmin generation rate is observed. The cell surface moieties involved in binding these reactants appear to be a mixed group of proteins and other molecules, many of which have been extensively investigated. The binding of plasminogen in particular is characterized by heterogeneous receptor molecules, present in high number but generally with low affinity for plasminogen. The low affinity of the interaction, with Kd values around 10(-6) M, presents considerable technical difficulties when studying and quantitating plasminogen binding to cells or isolated receptors. Studying plasminogen activation kinetics in the presence of cells also presents technical difficulties and raises difficult questions on interpretation of results. However, approaches developed to study enzyme activation systems in other areas of hemostasis may also be applied to the problems associated with pericellular proteolysis. Models should be developed that match In vitro experimental data and help us understand the meaning of kinetic constants derived from these systems. In this way it should be possible to better understand the regulation of plasminogen activation around the cell under normal conditions and in a variety of disease states where cell-associated plasminogen activation is believed to be up-regulated. Ultimately, a sound understanding of theses regulatory mechanisms will enable us to devise strategies for modulating proteolytic activity, test these approaches in well designed In vitro systems and relate these results to the in vivo situation.

Differences Between Neonates and Adults in the Urokinase-Plasminogen Activator (u-PA) Pathway of the Fibrinolytic System

This study deals with plasminogen activation kinetics of fetal and adult Glu-plasminogen types 1 and 2 as well as fetal and adult Lys-plasminogen by urokinase in the presence and absence of the lysine analogues ϵ-amino-n-caproic acid (EACA) and tranexamic acid. In addition, activation kinetics of single-chain urokinase-plasminogen activator (scu-PA) by adult and fetal plasmin types were investigated in the absence and presence of soluble fibrin. All Lys-plasminogen isoforms were more readily activated by urokinase than their corresponding Glu-plasminogen types. No substantial differences of the catalytic constants of urokinase-catalyzed plasminogen activation could be obtained when all fetal plasminogen types were compared to the respective adult types. In the case of all Glu-plasminogen isoforms, EACA as well as tranexamic acid first stimulated the activation process and, at higher concentrations, showed inhibitory properties. Again, the relative ability of all fetal plasminogen types to interact with lysine analogues revealed no differences compared to the respective adult glycoforms. In the absence of soluble fibrin, the catalytic efficiency of scu-PA activation by plasmin was significantly lower for both fetal plasmin isoforms. However, there were no differences in catalytic efficiency between fetal and adult plasmin types in the presence of 4 μM soluble fibrin. In conclusion, no substantial differences exist in urokinase-catalyzed plasminogen activation between neonates and adults, which is in contrast to reported data on plasminogen activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator. In the absence of soluble fibrin, scu-PA activation by fetal plasmin is markedly slower than by adult plasmin. However, this is compensated when fibrin is added at a concentration that is close to the physiological fibrinogen concentration in plasma. It can be summarized that the differences in carbohydrate structures of fetal and adult plasminogen are not associated with major differences in the global function of this part of fibrinolysis, despite functional alterations of scu-PA activation.

Identification of the Mechanism Responsible for the Increased Fibrin Specificity of TNK-Tissue Plasminogen Activator Relative to Tissue Plasminogen Activator

TNK-tissue plasminogen activator (TNK-t-PA), a bioengineered variant of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), has a longer half-life than t-PA because the glycosylation site at amino acid 117 (N117Q, abbreviated N) has been shifted to amino acid 103 (T103N, abbreviated T) and is resistant to inactivation by plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 because of a tetra-alanine substitution in the protease domain (K296A/H297A/R298A/R299A, abbreviated K). TNK-t-PA is more fibrin-specific than t-PA for reasons that are poorly understood. Previously, we demonstrated that the fibrin specificity of t-PA is compromised because t-PA binds to (DD)E, the major degradation product of cross-linked fibrin, with an affinity similar to that for fibrin. To investigate the enhanced fibrin specificity of TNK-t-PA, we compared the kinetics of plasminogen activation for t-PA, TNK-, T-, K-, TK-, and NK-t-PA in the presence of fibrin, (DD)E or fibrinogen. Although the activators have similar catalytic efficiencies in the presence of fibrin, the catalytic efficiency of TNK-t-PA is 15-fold lower than that for t-PA in the presence of (DD)E or fibrinogen. The T and K mutations combine to produce this reduction via distinct mechanisms because T-containing variants have a higher K(M), whereas K-containing variants have a lower k(cat) than t-PA. These results are supported by data indicating that T-containing variants bind (DD)E and fibrinogen with lower affinities than t-PA, whereas the K and N mutations have no effect on binding. Reduced efficiency of plasminogen activation in the presence of (DD)E and fibrinogen but equivalent efficiency in the presence of fibrin explain why TNK-t-PA is more fibrin-specific than t-PA.

Regulation of Tissue Plasminogen Activator Activity by Cells: DOMAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR BINDING AND MECHANISM OF STIMULATION

A number of cell types have previously been shown to bind tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which in some cases can remain active on the cell surface resulting in enhanced plasminogen activation kinetics. We have investigated several cultured cell lines, U937, THP1, K562, Molt4, and Nalm6 and shown that they bind both tPA and plasminogen and are able to act as promoters of plasminogen activation in kinetic assays. To understand what structural features of tPA are involved in cell surface interactions, we performed kinetic assays with a range of tPA domain deletion mutants consisting of full-length glycosylated and nonglycosylated tPA (F-G-K1-K2-P), DeltaFtPA (G-K1-K2-P), K2-P tPA (BM 06.022 or Reteplase), and protease domain (P). Deletion variants were made in Escherichia coli and were nonglycosylated. Plasminogen activation rates were compared with and without cells, over a range of cell densities at physiological tPA concentrations, and produced maximum levels of stimulation up to 80-fold with full-length, glycosylated tPA. Stimulation for nonglycosylated full-length tPA dropped to 45-60% of this value. Loss of N-terminal domains as in DeltaFtPA and K2P resulted in a further loss of stimulation to 15-30% of the full-length glycosylated value. The protease domain alone was stimulated at very low levels of up to 2-fold. Thus, a number of different sites are involved in cell interactions especially within finger and kringle domains, which is similar to the regulation of tPA activity by fibrin. A model was developed to explain the mechanism of stimulation and compared with actual data collected with varying cell, plasminogen, or tPA concentrations and different tPA variants. Experimental data and model predictions were generally in good agreement and suggest that stimulation is well explained by the concentration of reactants by cells.

Staphylokinase Requires NH2-terminal Proteolysis for Plasminogen Activation

Staphylokinase (Sak), a single-chain protein comprising 136 amino acids with NH2-terminal sequence,SSSFDKGKYKKGDDA forms a complex with plasmin, that is endowed with plasminogen activating properties. Plasmin is presumed to process mature (high molecular weight, HMW) Sak to low molecular weight derivatives (LMW-Sak), primarily by hydrolyzing the Lys10-Lys11 peptide bond, but the kinetics of plasminogen activation by HMW-Sak and LMW-Sak are very similar. Here, the requirement of NH2-terminal proteolysis of Sak for the induction of plasminogen activating potential was studied by mutagenesis of Lys10 and Lys11 in combination with NH2-terminal microsequence analysis of equimolar mixtures of Sak and plasminogen and determination of kinetic parameters of plasminogen activation by catalytic amounts of Sak. Substitution of Lys10 with Arg did not affect processing of the Arg10-Lys11 site nor plasminogen activation, whereas substitution with His resulted in cleavage of the Lys11-Gly12 peptide bond and abolished plasminogen activation. Substitution of Lys11 with Arg did not affect Lys10-Arg11 processing or plasminogen activation, whereas replacement with His did not prevent Lys10-His11 hydrolysis but abolished plasminogen activation. Substitution of Lys11 with Cys yielded an inactive processed derivative which was fully activated by aminoethylation. Deletion of the 10 NH2-terminal amino acids did not affect plasminogen activation, but additional deletion of Lys11 eliminated plasminogen activation. Thus generation of plasminogen activator potential in Sak proceeds via plasmin-mediated removal of the 10 NH2-terminal amino acids with exposure of Lys11 as the new NH2 terminus. This provides a structural basis for the hypothesis, derived from kinetic measurements, that plasminogen activation by Sak needs to be primed by plasmin and a mechanism for the high fibrin selectivity of Sak in a plasma milieu.

Kinetics and mechanism of platelet-surface plasminogen activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Plasminogen and tissue-type plasminogen activator bind to the platelet surface, and as a result, the catalytic efficiency of plasminogen activation is significantly enhanced. The plasmin that is generated on or near the platelet is known to affect a number of platelet surface events. For this reason, we examined the effect of plasmin on platelet-surface plasminogen activation and its determinants. Specifically, we measured the effects of plasmin treatment of platelets (1 caseinolytic unit/mL for 1 h at 37 degrees C) on plasminogen, tissue-type plasminogen activator, and plasmin binding to the unactivated and ADP-activated platelet surface; and on the kinetics of plasminogen activation on the platelet surface. Following plasmin treatment, the number of plasminogen binding sites on unactivated platelets increased by 78% (from 46,000 +/- 4000 to 88,000 +/- 9000 sites/platelet), while the number of tissue-type plasminogen activator sites did not change, and the number of diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP)-inactivated plasmin (DFP-plasmin) binding sites decreased by 31% (from 92,000 +/- 11,000 to 65,000 +/- 7000 sites/platelet); the dissociation constants (Kds) for each of these binding processes did not change significantly following treatment. On ADP-activated platelets, plasmin treatment increased the number of plasminogen binding sites by 41% (from 188,000 +/- 17,000 to 265,000 +/- 25,000 sites/platelet), decreased the number of plasmin binding sites by 28% (from 219,000 +/- 41,000 to 157,000 +/- 24,000 sites/platelet), and did not affect the number of tissue-type plasminogen activator sites; again, the Kds for each of these binding processes did not change significantly following treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Modulation of tissue plasminogen activator-catalyzed plasminogen activation by synthetic peptides derived from the amino-terminal heparin binding domain of fibronectin.

Fibronectin is a multidomain adhesive glycoprotein found in plasma, interstitial connective tissue, and basement membrane. Diverse biological activities have been associated with the fibronectin molecule including cell adhesion, cell migration, wound healing, hemostasis, and oncogenic transformation. Binding sites for heparin, fibrin, gelatin/collagen, and cells have been localized to various structural domains of the molecule. In addition, fibronectin also binds both plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) via a 55-kDa amino-terminal fragment (Moser, T.L., Enghild, J.J., Pizzo, S.V., and Stack, M.S. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 18917-18923). Although intact fibronectin does not enhance the rate of t-PA-catalyzed plasminogen activation, a mixture of proteolytically degraded fibronectin fragments stimulates the activation reaction, resulting in an 11-fold increase in the kcat/Km. Based on these observations, we have synthesized a variety of peptides derived from the plasminogen/t-PA binding region of fibronectin and determined the effect of these peptides on the initial rate kinetics of plasminogen activation by t-PA as well as on plasmin and t-PA amidolytic activity. Here we report that a specific octapeptide, SRNRCNDQ-NH2, consisting of residues 196-203 of the fibronectin molecule is a potent stimulator of t-PA-catalyzed plasminogen activation, resulting in a 15-fold increase in the kcat/Km of the activation reaction.

Reciprocating autocatalytic interactions between platelets and the activation system

Under normal circumstances, the platelet surface serves as a site of assembly for plasminogen (PGN) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and facilitates PGN activation. Since the plasmin (Pn) produced on the platelet surface can modulate a variety of platelet properties, we examined the effects of Pn on platelet-surface PGN activation. We incubated platelets with Pn (one caseinolytic unit/ml for one hr at 37°C) and measured the effects of this treatment on the binding of PGN, Pn, and t-PA to unactivated platelets; and on the kinetics of PGN activation on the platelet surface. Pn treatment increased the number of PGN binding sites by 78% (from 46,000 to 88,000 sites/platelet) without affecting affinity (K D=2.2 μM). Pn treatment had a modest effect on (DFP-inactivated) Pn binding but did not modify t-PA binding; however, treatment increased the catalytic efficiency of t-PA approximately two-fold. Importantly, all of these effects occurred without evidence for platelet activation by Pn. These observations imply that PGN activation may be an autocatalytic process on the platelet surface and provide evidence for a unique reciprocating mechanism governing the interaction between platelets and the plasminogen activation system.

Potentiation of plasminogen activation by an anti-urokinase monoclonal antibody due to ternary complex formation. A mechanistic model for receptor-mediated plasminogen activation.

We have observed that a murine IgG1 monoclonal antibody directed against human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) greatly potentiates pro-uPA-mediated plasminogen activation. This effect was dependent on the interaction between the immunoglobulin and the kringle domain of pro-uPA and could be competed efficiently by kringle-containing proteolytic fragments of uPA. In addition, the potentiation could also be competed by the lysine analog 6-aminohexanoic acid, an antagonist of plasminogen binding. This unexpected plasminogen binding dependence was found to be due to a carboxyl-terminal lysine residue on the immunoglobulin gamma chain, which by analogy with other proteins represents a potential binding site for plasminogen. Removal of this residue with carboxypeptidase B resulted in a complete abolition of the potentiation. It appears therefore that the potentiatory effect involves a novel mechanism with the antibody acting to provide a specific template for the assembly of a ternary complex involving pro-uPA/uPA and plasminogen, enabling them to interact in a catalytically favorable manner. This interpretation was confirmed by studying the kinetics of plasminogen activation by the complex between active, two-chain uPA and the antibody, which resulted in an overall 50-fold increase in reaction efficiency (kcat/Km), primarily due to a reduction in Km from 20 to 0.1 microM. Pro-uPA activation by plasmin was also accelerated, although to a lesser extent. The potentiation due to complex formation also provides a mechanism for the initiation of this system, dependent only on the low intrinsic proteolytic activity of the zymogen forms. The effects observed here, mediated by ternary complex formation, simulate the effects we have previously observed on assembly of the uPA receptor-mediated cellular plasminogen activation system and may therefore represent a mechanistic model for both its activity and initiation.

The Kinetics of Plasminogen Activation by Thrombin-Cleaved Pro-Urokinase and Promotion of its Activity by Fibrin Fragment E-2 and by Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Thrombin hydrolyzes the Arg156-Phe157 bond in pro-urokinase (pro-UK), two residues from the activation site, generating a two-chain form (thromb-UK) believed to have little activity and that is resistant to plasmin activation. The kinetic constants for thromb-UK against synthetic substrate (S2444) were found to be essentially identical to pro-UK. Against native plasminogen, thromb-UK had a lower Michaelis constant (KM) and a higher (2-fold) catalytic efficiency. However, this difference with pro-UK was nullified by carboxypeptidase B (CpB) treatment of thromb-UK to remove the C-terminal arginine on the A-chain. Plasminogen activation by thromb-UK was substantially promoted by fibrin fragment E-2 but not by other fibrin derivatives, a phenomenon previously observed with pro-UK. Similarly, clot lysis by thromb-UK was promoted by tissue plasminogen activator because their combined effect was synergistic. Fibrinogenolysis in plasma occurred at 80-fold the concentration of thromb-UK as pro-UK, reflecting the 90-fold greater plasmin resistance of thromb-UK. Addition of a CpB inhibitor to the plasma enhanced fibrinogenolysis by thromb-UK and pro-UK by approximately 16%, consistent with the promotion of both forms by certain C-terminal lysines. In conclusion, CpB-thromb-UK corresponds functionally to a plasmin resistant form of pro-UK, indicating that the catalytic site of the single-chain pro-UK is unaffected by thrombin cleavage. The effect of CpB indicates that the C-terminal Arg of thromb-UK slightly enhances its affinity for plasminogen. Thromb-UK has potential plasminogen-activating activity at surfaces where C-terminal lysines, functionally comparable to fragment E-2, are found.

The kinetics of plasminogen activation by thrombin-cleaved pro- urokinase and promotion of its activity by fibrin fragment E-2 and by tissue plasminogen activator

Thrombin hydrolyzes the Arg156-Phe157 bond in pro-urokinase (pro-UK), two residues from the activation site, generating a two-chain form (thromb-UK) believed to have little activity and that is resistant to plasmin activation. The kinetic constants for thromb-UK against synthetic substrate (S2444) were found to be essentially identical to pro-UK. Against native plasminogen, thromb-UK had a lower Michaelis constant (KM) and a higher (2-fold) catalytic efficiency. However, this difference with pro-UK was nullified by carboxypeptidase B (CpB) treatment of thromb-UK to remove the C-terminal arginine on the A- chain. Plasminogen activation by thromb-UK was substantially promoted by fibrin fragment E-2 but not by other fibrin derivatives, a phenomenon previously observed with pro-UK. Similarly, clot lysis by thromb-UK was promoted by tissue plasminogen activator because their combined effect was synergistic. Fibrinogenolysis in plasma occurred at 80-fold the concentration of thromb-UK as pro-UK, reflecting the 90- fold greater plasmin resistance of thromb-UK. Addition of a CpB inhibitor to the plasma enhanced fibrinogenolysis by thromb-UK and pro- UK by approximately 16%, consistent with the promotion of both forms by certain C-terminal lysines. In conclusion, CpB-thromb-UK corresponds functionally to a plasmin resistant form of pro-UK, indicating that the catalytic site of the single-chain pro-UK is unaffected by thrombin cleavage. The effect of CpB indicates that the C-terminal Arg of thromb- UK slightly enhances its affinity for plasminogen. Thromb-UK has potential plasminogen-activating activity at surfaces where C-terminal lysines, functionally comparable to fragment E-2, are found.

Biochemical properties of recombinant single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator mutants with deletion of Asn2 through Phe157 and/or substitution of Cys279 with Ala.

The contribution of the NH2-terminal polypeptide chain and of the Cys148-Cys279 interchain disulphide bond to the enzyme activity of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) was studied using site-specific mutagenesis. Recombinant single-chain u-PA (rscu-PA) variants were produced by transfecting Chinese hamster ovary cells with cDNA encoding des(Asn2-Phe157)rscu-PA (rscu-PA with deletion of Asn2-Phe157), [Ala279]rscu-PA (rscu-PA with Cys279----Ala mutation) or des(Asn2-Phe157)[Ala279]rscu-PA [des(Asn2-Phe157)rscu-PA with Cys279----Ala mutation]. Des(Asn2-Phe157)rscu-PA, [Ala279]rscu-PA and des(Asn2-Phe157)[Ala279]rscu-PA, purified from conditioned cell culture medium, were obtained as nearly homogeneous single-chain molecules with Mr approximately 30,000, 54,000 and 30,000, and specific fibrinolytic activities on fibrin plates of (mean +/- SD; n = 3) 860 +/- 150 IU/mg, 43.0 +/- 2.5 IU/micrograms and 240 +/- 20 IU/mg, respectively, compared to 69.0 +/- 4.3 IU/micrograms for wild-type rscu-PA obtained in the same expression system. The plasminogen activating potential in a buffer milieu of [Ala279]rscu-PA was somewhat lower than that of rscu-PA, but that of both deletion mutants was virtually abolished. In a human plasma milieu in vitro, consisting of a radiolabelled human plasma clot submerged in plasma, 50% clot lysis in 2 h required 6.5 micrograms/ml [Ala279]rscu-PA or 3.4 micrograms/ml rscu-PA, whereas with both deletion mutants no significant clot lysis was observed with up to 16 micrograms/ml. Treatment of [Ala279]rscu-PA or rscu-PA with plasmin resulted in quantitative conversion to two-chain molecules and was associated with an increase in specific amidolytic activity from about 600 IU/mg to 62.5 IU/micrograms for [Ala279]rscu-PA as compared to an increase from about 0.3 IU/micrograms to 75.0 IU/micrograms for rscu-PA. In contrast, no significant amidolytic activity could be generated by treatment of des(Asn2-Phe157)rscu-PA or des(Asn2-Phe157)[Ala279]rscu-PA with plasmin. The u-PA B-chain, isolated from plasmin-treated [Ala279]rscu-PA, had enzymic properties which were comparable to those of rtcu-PA, with respect to specific fibrinolytic activity, amidolytic activity, kinetics of plasminogen activation and clot-lysis activity in a human plasma milieu in vitro. Following bolus injection into hamsters, the plasma clearances were comparable (0.7-1.1 ml/min) for wild-type rscu-PA and for the three truncated rscu-PA mutants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of N-glycosylation on in vitro activity of Bowes melanoma and human colon fibroblast-derived tissue plasminogen activator

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), when isolated from human colon fibroblast (hcf) cells, is N-glycosylated differently than when isolated from the Bowes melanoma (m) cell line (Parekh et al., 1988). Both hcf- and m-t-PA can be separated into type I t-PA (with three occupied N-glycosylation sequons, at Asn-117, -184, and -448) and type II t-PA (with two occupied sequons, at Asn-117 and -448). Oligosaccharide analysis of each of these types of t-PA indicates that hcf-t-PA and m-t-PA have no glycoforms in common, despite having the same primary amino acid sequence. We have therefore compared in vitro the enzymatic activities and fibrin binding of type I and type II hcf- and m-t-PA with those of aglycosyl t-PA isolated from tunicamycin-treated cells. Plasminogen activation kinetics were determined by using an indirect amidolytic assay with Glu-plasminogen and a chromogenic plasmin substrate. In the absence of stimulator, there was little difference in activity between type I and type II t-PA, but the activity of aglycosyl t-PA was 2-4-fold higher than that of the corresponding glycosylated t-PA. In the presence of a fibrinogen fragment stimulator, the Kcat value of type II t-PA was approximately 5-fold that of type I t-PA from the same cell line, while the Km values for activation of Glu-plasminogen were similar (0.13-0.18 microM). The stimulated activity of glycosyl t-PA was similar to that of type II t-PA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A study of the functional role of the C-terminal lysine on the A-chain of urokinase (UK) in the kinetics of plasminogen activation

A study of the functional role of the C-terminal lysine on the A-chain of urokinase (UK) in the kinetics of plasminogen activation

Synthesis of taurine- and/or acetyl group-conjugated poly(D-Glu, D-Lys) derivatives and their effects on fibrinolysis

A series of C-sulfoethylated and/or N-acetylated poly(D-Glu, D-Lys) (polyGL) derivatives was synthesized and their effects on tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA)-induced fibrinolysis were investigated. These derivatives accelerated t-PA-induced plasma (fibrin) clot lysis and t-PA-catalyzed plasminogen activation with the following order of potency: C-sulfoethylated and N-acetylated polyGL > N-acetylated polyGL > C-sulfoethylated polyGL > polyGL. The most potent stimulator C-sulfoethylated and N-acetylated polyGL associated with both t-PA and plasminogen under low ionic conditions, whereas it did not prevent the bindings of t-PA and plasminogen to fibrin. These results suggest that t-PA and plasminogen preferentially bind to sulfated or carboxylated polyanions, which may be required to possess certain neutral groups, and such complex formation may improve the plasminogen activation kinetics in a different manner from that of fibrin.

Plasminogen activation by tissue plasminogen activator in the presence of stimulating CNBr fragment FCB-2 of fibrinogen is a two-phase reaction. Kinetic analysis of the initial phase of slow plasmin formation.

Plasminogen activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is stimulated by fibrin. In a purified system maximal fibrin-enhanced plasmin formation occurs with a delay after an initial phase of slow plasmin formation (lag phase). In the present study purified stimulating CNBr-fragment FCB-2 of fibrinogen was used, and kinetics of plasminogen activation by t-PA were analyzed with respect to the lag phase. At constant FCB-2 concentration the duration of the lag phase decreased with increasing concentrations of t-PA and plasminogen. During this period the rate of plasmin formation/min increased linearly with time with a slope dependent on the initial concentrations of FCB-2, plasminogen, and t-PA. Plasmin pretreatment of FCB-2 resulted in a dose- and time-dependent shortening of the lag phase, and at plasmin concentrations greater than or equal to 1 nM and preincubation times greater than or equal to 3 min maximal plasmin formation occurred without a lag phase. Kinetics during the phase of maximal and constant plasmin formation were not influenced by plasmin pretreatment of FCB-2. We therefore conclude that maximal t-PA-dependent plasmin formation in a system stimulated by purified FCB-2 requires plasmin modification of FCB-2.

The effect of polymerised fibrin on the catalytic activities of one-chain tissue-type plasminogen activator as revealed by an analogue resistant to plasmin cleavage

A one-chain recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (EC 2.4.31.-) (tPA) analogue was constructed in which Arg-275 of the activation site was changed to Gly by site-directed mutagenesis. This analogue, tPA-Gly 275, was very resistant to plasmin (EC 2.4.21.5) cleavage. It has been used to gain information about the activity of the uncleaved one-chain tPA form, also when plasmin is generated as a result of a plasminogen activation reaction. The amidolytic activity of tPA-Gly 275 with <Glu-Gly-Arg- pNA was investigated and compared to that of one-chain and two-chain wild-type recombinant tPA. A small but significant intrinsic amidolytic activity was observed with the analogue as well as the wild-type one-chain tPA form. However, it was much lower than that of two-chain tPA. Polymerised fibrin enhanced the amidolytic activity of both one-chain tPA forms but not of two-chain tPA. Measurements of the plasminogen activation kinetics in the absence of fibrin revealed that tPA-Gly 275 possessed a significant intrinsic activity. However, it was 30-fold lower than that of two-chain tPA. Addition of polymerised fibrin profoundly enhanced the plasminogen activation rate of both tPA-Gly 275 and wild-type one- and two-chain tPA to approximately the same maximal level. The results were interpreted to mean that fibrin binding can induce an activated state of the intact tPA one-chain form.

Localization of the binding sites of porcine tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen to heparin

To localize the binding region of porcine tissue-type plasminogen activator (EC 3.4.21.31) (t-plasminogen activator) to heparin, functionally active A and B chains (molecular mass of each 33 kDa) were separated from the two-chain t-plasminogen activator after mild reduction and alkylation. The A chain bound to fibrin-Sepharose, but not to heparin-Sepharose. In contrast, the B chain showed amidase activity toward HD-Ile-Pro-Arg- p-nitroanilide (S-2288) and a high affinity for heparin-Sepharose, but no affinity for fibrin-Sepharose. Plasminogen activator activity of the B chain was stimulated by heparin (about 3-fold), but not by fibrin. On the other hand, the elastase digestion fragments of plasminogen, kringle 1–3 and kringle 4, had no affinity for a heparin-Sepharose column, whereas the other fragment, Val 442-plasminogen, efficiently bound to the column and was eluted with 1.6 M KSCN-containing buffer. The stimulatory effect of fibrin on two-chain t-plasminogen activator-catalyzed Val 442-plasminogen activation was clearly diminished by heparin. These results suggest that heparin can form a complex with both t-plasminogen activator and plasminogen molecules through their catalytic regions located in each B chain, and that the heparin connection between t-plasminogen activator and plasminogen may improve the plasminogen activation kinetics by making a situation in which t-plasminogen activator is easily approachable to plasminogen.