Biomedical subjects

A Houng

Publications and source records attributed to A Houng.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Epsilon amino caproic acid inhibits streptokinase-plasminogen activator complex formation and substrate binding through kringle-dependent mechanisms.

Lysine side chains induce conformational changes in plasminogen (Pg) that regulate the process of fibrinolysis or blood clot dissolution. A lysine side-chain mimic, epsilon amino caproic acid (EACA), enhances the activation of Pg by urinary-type and tissue-type Pg activators but inhibits Pg activation induced by streptokinase (SK). Our studies of the mechanism of this inhibition revealed that EACA (IC(50) 10 microM) also potently blocked amidolytic activity by SK and Pg at doses nearly 10000-fold lower than that required to inhibit the amidolytic activity of plasmin. Different Pg fragments were used to assess the role of the kringles in mediating the inhibitory effects of EACA: mini-Pg which lacks kringles 1-4 of Glu-Pg and micro-Pg which lacks all kringles and contains only the catalytic domain. SK bound with similar affinities to Glu-Pg (K(A) = 2.3 x 10(9) M(-1)) and to mini-Pg (K(A) = 3.8 x 10(9) M(-)(1)) but with significantly lower affinity to micro-Pg (K(A) = 6 x 10(7) M(-)(1)). EACA potently inhibited the binding of Glu-Pg to SK (K(i) = 5.7 microM), but was less potent (K(i) = 81.1 microM) for inhibiting the binding of mini-Pg to SK and had no significant inhibitory effects on the binding of micro-Pg and SK. In assays simulating substrate binding, EACA also potently inhibited the binding of Glu-Pg to the SK-Glu-Pg activator complex, but had negligible effects on micro-Pg binding. Taken together, these studies indicate that EACA inhibits Pg activation by blocking activator complex formation and substrate binding, through a kringle-dependent mechanism. Thus, in addition to interactions between SK and the protease domain, interactions between SK and the kringle domain(s) play a key role in Pg activation.

Aminocaproic Acid↗

PubMed1996

Mutation of lysines in a plasminogen binding region of streptokinase identifies residues important for generating a functional activator complex.

Through a unique but poorly understood mechanism, streptokinase (SK) interacts with human plasminogen to generate an "activator complex" that efficiently cleaves substrate plasminogen molecules. Previous studies have suggested that lysine residues in SK may play a role in the binding and function of the activator complex. To investigate this hypothesis, 10 different lysine residues in the plasminogen binding region of SK were altered to construct 8 recombinant (r) SK mutants. Only one double mutant, rSKK256,257A (replacing Lys with Ala at residues 256 and 257), showed a statistically significant reduction (63%) in binding affinity for Glu-plasminogen. This mutant also displayed a lagtime in the appearance of maximal activity, and modest impairments (2-5-fold) in kinetic parameters for amidolytic and plasminogen activator activity compared to rSK. In contrast, another mutant, rSKK332,334A, formed an activator complex with profound and nearly selective defects in the catalytic processing of substrate plasminogen molecules. When compared to rSK in kinetic assays of plasminogen activation, the rSKK332,334A mutant formed an activator complex that bound substrate plasminogens normally (normal K(m), but its ability to activate or cleave these molecules (kcat) was reduced by 34-fold. In contrast, in amidolytic assays, the kinetic parameters of rSKK332,334A showed only minor differences (< 2-fold) from rSK. Similarly, the binding affinity of this mutant to human Glu-plasminogen was indistinguishable from rSK [(2.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(9) vs (2.4 +/- 0.2) x 10(9) M-1, respectively]. In summary, these experiments have identified lysine residues in a plasminogen binding region of SK which appear to be necessary for normal high-affinity binding to plasminogen, and for the efficient catalytic processing of substrate plasminogen molecules by the activator complex.

Base Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Membrane-based cell affinity chromatography to retrieve viable cells.

A novel scheme for the separation and live recovery of one cell type from a mixture of cells using a cell affinity chromatography (CAC) system is demonstrated. An anti-murine IgG was chemically immobilized to a cellophane support via a carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) link. Murine splenocytes flowed over the support, and B-cells were allowed to attach at a shear rate of 15 s-1. Once loading was terminated, the support was washed at a shear rate of 315 s-1 to remove nonspecifically bound cells. Elution of the B-cells was initiated by the transmembrane diffusion of hydrochloric acid (pH 1), supplied to the side of the membrane opposite the cells. At the same time, a shear flow of normal saline was established on the cell side of the membrane, and cells, freed by acid, were retrieved. Results showed that, on average, 250 cells/mm2 attached to antibody immobilized on cellophane surfaces, at a shear rate of 15 s-1, and that attached cells were successfully displaced by acid supplied to the side of the membrane opposite that holding the cells. On average, at least 60% of the B-cells removed by this elution appeared viable, based on a Trypan Blue dye exclusion assay.

Animals↗