The plasmin-antiplasmin system: structural and functional aspects.
The plasmin-antiplasmin system plays a key role in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. Plasmin and α(2)-antiplasmin are primarily responsible for a controlled and regulated dissolution of the fibrin polymers into soluble fragments. However, besides plasmin(ogen) and α(2)-antiplasmin the system contains a series of specific activators and inhibitors. The main physiological activators of plasminogen are tissue-type plasminogen activator, which is mainly involved in the dissolution of the fibrin polymers by plasmin, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator, which is primarily responsible for the generation of plasmin activity in the intercellular space. Both activators are multidomain serine proteases. Besides the main physiological inhibitor α(2)-antiplasmin, the plasmin-antiplasmin system is also regulated by the general protease inhibitor α(2)-macroglobulin, a member of the protease inhibitor I39 family. The activity of the plasminogen activators is primarily regulated by the plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 and 2, members of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern, Switzerland. johann.schaller@ibc.unibe.ch
Johann
J
Schaller
Simon S
SS
Gerber
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D057057:Serine Proteases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D010958:Plasminogen; D057057:Serine Proteases; D010960:Plasminogen Activators