The distinguishing characteristic of vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) salivary plasminogen activators (DSPAs) is their strict requirement for fibrin as a cofactor. DSPAs consist of structural modules known from urokinase (u-PA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) such as finger (F), epidermal growth factor (E), kringle (K), and protease (P), combining to four genetically and biochemically distinct isoenzymes, exhibiting the formulas FEKP (DSPA␣1 and ␣2) and EKP and KP (DSPA and DSPA␥). Only DSPA␣1 and ␣2 bind to fibrin. All DSPAs are single-chain molecules, displaying substantial amidolytic activity. In a plasminogen activation assay, all four DSPAs are almost inactive in the absence of fibrin but strongly stimulated by fibrin addition. The catalytic efficiency (k cat /K m ) of DSPA␣1 increases 10 5 -fold, whereas the corresponding value of t-PA is only 550. The ratio of the bimolecular rate constants of plasminogen activation in the presence of fibrin versus fibrinogen (fibrin selectivity) of DSPA␣1, ␣2, , ␥, and t-PA was found to be 13,000, 6500, 250, 90, and 72, respectively. Whereas all DSPAs are therefore more fibrin dependent and fibrin selective than t-PA, the extent depends on the respective presence of the various domains. The introduction of a plasmin-sensitive cleavage site in a position akin to the one in t-PA partially obliterates fibrin cofactor requirement. Fibrin dependence and fibrin selectivity of DSPAs are accordingly mediated by fibrin binding, which involves the F domain, as yet undefined determinants within the K and P domains, and by the absence of a plasmin-sensitive activation site. These findings transcend the current understanding of fibrin-mediated stimulation of plasminogen activation: in addition to fibrin binding, specific protein-protein interactions come into play, which stabilize the enzyme in its active conformation.
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