We describe efficient, accurate methods for specific determination of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA, EC 3.4.21.31) and its "fast" inhibitor in plasma. In this coupled assay, a sample containing t-PA is incubated with plasminogen, a plasmin (EC 3.4.21.7) substrate of low Km and high Kcat, and fibrin as a stimulator. The inhibitor of t-PA is determined by incubating the sample with a known amount of t-PA in excess, then determining the residual t-PA. Both t-PA and t-PA inhibitor can be determined in many samples simultaneously within a few hours. These assays are modifications of procedures described by us (Clin Chim Acta 1983;127:279-88 and Thromb Res 1983;31:427-36). Their accuracy as assessed by analytical recovery of pure t-PA added to blood samples (91 +/- 4%) or of partly purified inhibitor added to plasma samples (102 +/- 10%) is satisfactory, as is their precision. For the t-PA assay the CV was 1.6% (within run) or 4.1% (between run). The corresponding values for the inhibitor assay were 4.5% (within run) or 8.4% (between run) if the inhibitor concentration exceeded 3 arb. units/mL.
The reactions between plasminogen-activator inhibitor (PAI) and different plasminogen activators were studied in the presence of chromogenic peptide substrates for the enzymes. Our findings suggest that the rate constants for the reactions of PAI with single-chain tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), two-chain tPA, high-Mr urokinase and low-Mr urokinase are high and quite similar (1.6 X 10(7)-3.9 X 10(7) M-1.s-1). A free active site in the enzymes seems to be necessary for their reaction with PAI. Amino acids with antifibrinolytic properties did not interfere with the reactions. However, di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate-inactivated tPA inhibited the reaction between PAI and all plasminogen activators in a similar way. These findings clearly demonstrated that a 'second-site' interaction, in addition to that between the enzyme active site and the inhibitor 'bait' peptide bond, is of importance for the high reaction rate. The reaction rate between PAI and single-chain tPA in the presence of an activator substrate (D-Ile-Pro-Arg p-nitroanilide) was decreased in the presence of fibrin. Fibrin caused a decrease in the Km for the single-chain tPA-substrate reaction. As a consequence, the 'free' concentration of single-chain tPA in the system decreased in the presence of fibrin, affecting the reaction rate between PAI and single-chain tPA. The phenomenon might be of physiological relevance, in the sense that single-chain tPA bound to fibrin in the presence of plasminogen would be protected against inactivation by PAI.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.