The influence of fibrin(ogen) fragments on the kinetic parameters of the tissue-type plasminogen-activator-mediated activation of different forms of plasminogen.

In the present work we have determined Km,app and kcat,app values for tissue-type plasminogen-activator-catalyzed activation of Glu-plasminogen, Lys-plasminogen and mini-plasminogen in the absence and in the presence of fibrinogen-derived fragments. These were CNBr fragment 2, the A alpha chain remnant of CNBr fragment 2 (A alpha 148-207) and plasmin-generated fragment D-EGTA. The time course of plasmin formation from the various types of plasminogen (plg) was measured spectrophotometrically in a coupled assay system where D-valyl-L-leucyl-L-lysine p-nitroanilide served as a plasmin substrate. The kinetic constants are summarized as follows. (Values in parentheses are concentrations at which the minimum Km,app and maximum kcat,app value is reached.) (Table: see text). In conclusion our results show that CNBr fragment 2, A alpha 148-207 and to some extent D-EGTA mimic the accelerating effect of fibrin. The first two of these fragments did not accelerate activation of mini-plasminogen, lacking the kringle structures I-IV. This suggests that the stimulating effects of these two fragments were dependent on the presence of kringles I-IV of the plasminogen molecule.

A quantitative enzyme immunoassay for primary fibrinogenolysis products in plasma.

We have developed a two-step enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that allows the quantitation of degradation products derived from fibrinogen (FbgDP) and that does not detect degradation products derived from cross-linked (XDP) or noncrosslinked fibrin (fdp). The EIA is based on two monoclonal antibodies (FDP-14 and Y-18), developed in our institute. FDP-14 is used as catching antibody. It complexes exclusively with degradation products, irrespective whether these are derived from fibrinogen or from fibrin. It does not complex with intact fibrinogen or fibrin. Y-18 is reactive with fibrinogen and fibrinopeptide A-comprising fibrinogen fragments. It is used, conjugated with horse-radish peroxidase, as tagging antibody. The FbgDP-EIA is highly specific, accurate and sensitive. The coefficient of variation is between 3 and 8%; the lower detection limit is less than 0.025 micrograms/ml. The assay has been applied to plasma from patients with suspected disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), to plasma from patients undergoing streptokinase (SK) therapy for acute myocardial infarction and to plasma from newborn babies. DIC patients had no or very low levels of FbgDP, but high levels of other degradation products, SK-treated patients showed high levels of degradation products two hours after termination of the SK infusion. A considerable fraction of these degradation products was shown to be FbgDP. Plasma from newborn babies contained elevated levels of FbgDP associated with prolonged prothrombin times.

Factors influencing the separation of glu-plasminogen affinity forms I and II by affinity chromatography.

Native human plasminogen, the proenzyme of plasmin (E.C. 3.4.21.7) occurs in blood in two well defined forms, affinity forms I and II. In this paper, the feasibility of separating these forms of human native plasminogen by affinity chromatography, is shown to be dependent on two factors: 1) the ionic composition of the buffer containing the displacing agent: buffers of varying contents of sodium, Tris, phosphate and chloride ions were compared, and 2) the type of adsorbent. Two adsorbents were compared: Sepharose-lysine and Sepharose-bisoxirane-lysine. Only in the phosphate containing buffers, irrespective of the type of adsorbent, the affinity forms can be separated. The influence of the adsorbent can be accounted for by a large difference in dissociation constants of the complex between plasminogen and the immobilized lysine.