MUTANT AND CHIMAERIC RECOMBINANT PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATORS

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Piérard ◽  
P Jacobs ◽  
D Gheysen ◽  
M Hoylaerts ◽  
A Cravador ◽  
...  

In order to produce plasminogen activators (PA) more specific and more active than their natural counterparts, we designed recombinant genes encoding mutant forms of urokinase (u-PA) and chimaeric molecules combining fragments of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and of u-PA. The following constructs have been realized : 1°) u-PA where amino acids Arg156 and Lys158 have been replaced by Thr. The purpose of this approach was to obtain a prourokinase molecule displaying similar properties as the natural single chain urokinase (scu-PA) but resistant to the cleavage by plasmin ; 2°) u-PA where the second cleavage site, Lys135-Lys136, was also eliminated either by replacing amino acid 132 to amino acid 147 by a shorter link (Ser-Thr) as found in t-PA, or by replacing the two lysines by glutamine residues. The resulting molecules correspond thus to completely uncleavable scu-PA forms ; 3°) an hybrid composed of the finger domain of t-PA and of the B-chain of u-PA ; 4°) an hybrid made of the A-chain of t-PA and of the B-chain of u-PA ; 5°) an hybrid where the kringle 2 of t-PA has been inserted between the kringle domain and the B-chain of u-PA. The last three constructs have been made to confer the fibrin binding specificity of t-PA to the B-chain of u-PA.All recombinant DNAs were introduced, via an expression vector, into R1610 and CosI cells. Secretion of the recombinant products was monitored by ELISA and activities were assayed in an immobilized system involving a monoclonal antibody (AAU2) raised against 33K u-PA, plasminogen and the specific chromogenic substrate S2251. In this assay, all recombinant products, except the plasmin resistant (156-158) scu-PA, showed apparent specific activities comparable to the activity of natural two-chain u-PA. Potential interest of these new plasminogen activators in therapy will be discussed and further characterization of the new molecules will-be presented.

1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (05) ◽  
pp. 466-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Colucci ◽  
L G Cavallo ◽  
G Agnelli ◽  
A Mele ◽  
R Bürgi ◽  
...  

SummaryTwo hybrid plasminogen activators (K2tu-PA and FK2tu-PA), linking the kringle 2 domain or the finger plus the kringle 2 domains of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) to the catalytic domain of single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) were studied. At variance with similar constructs previously reported, they were obtained by fusion of the t-PA and scu-PA derived portions at their plasmin cleavage site (between Arg275 of t-PA and Ile159 of scu-PA), thus eliminating from scu-PA the two peptide bonds (Glu143-Leu144 and Arg156-Phe157) that lead to low molecular weight scu-PA and to thrombin-inactivated tcu-PA. The specific activities of K2tu-PA and FK2tu-PA, as measured by fibrin plate were 2.5 × 106 and 1.0 × 106 t-PA equivalent units/mg, respectively. Activation of plasminogen by hybrid PAs was stimulated by both CNBr-digested fibrinogen (40- and 80-fold) and Des-A-fibrin monomers (6- and 12-fold). The relatively weak stimulation of chimeric PAs by minimally degraded fibrin monomers was consistent with their reduced fibrin binding capacity. Like scu-PA, the chimeric PAs, in the single-chain form, were insensitive to inhibition, as they retained full activity after prolonged incubation in plasma and did not interact with SDS-reactivated recombinant PAI-1. The concentration producing 50% lysis of blood clots in 3 h was 0.5 μg/ml for K2tu-PA and 1 μg/ml for FK2tu-PA, as compared to 0.5 μg/ml and >2 μg/ml for t-PA and scu-PA, respectively. Plasminogen and α2-antiplasmin consumption induced by the hybrid PAs in clot-free plasma was comparable to (K2tu-PA) or lower than (FK2tu-PA) that induced by either t-PA or scu-PA. When exposed to plasmin, the hybrids were completely converted into two-chain molecules with full enzymatic activity. At variance with u-PA, however, the two-chain recombinant activators still required fibrin for full expression of activity. These data indicate that the products of such “artificial” fusion behave like true chimeras without loss of biological activity. The insensitivity to thrombin inactivation and to the proteolytic cleavage leading to low molecular weight scu-PA might confer enhanced stability to the molecules, especially at thrombus level. Moreover, if the thrombolytic activity observed in vitro is maintained in vivo, the prolonged half life of these hybrids should result in higher plasma levels of activator and thus in more extensive and rapid lysis.


1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (03) ◽  
pp. 331-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Agnelli ◽  
Claudia Pascucci ◽  
Mario Colucci ◽  
Giuseppe G Nenci ◽  
Antonio Mele ◽  
...  

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate the thrombolytic activity of two hybrid plasminogen activators (HPAs) in a rabbit jugular vein thrombosis model. In the two HPAs the kringle-2 domain (K2tu-PA) or the finger and the kringle-2 domains (FK2tu-PA) of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) are linked to the catalytic protease domain of single chain urokinase type plasminogen activator (scu-PA). The two HPAs were compared with rt-PA and scu-PA on a weight/weight basis. K2tu-PA, FK2tu-PA, rt-PA and scu-PA were infused at doses of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mg/kg over 3 h. Saline served as control. Saline produced 11 ± 2% thrombolysis. The three doses of K2tu-PA led to 38 ± 4%, 66 ± 5% and 89 ± 7% thrombolysis, respectively; the three doses of FK2tu-PA: 18 ± 3%, 29 ± 5% and 33 ± 6%, respectively; the three doses of rt-PA 32 ± 2%, 49 ± 3% and 68 ± 6%, respectively; the three doses of scu-PA 16 ± 2%, 24 ± 3% and 32 ± 4%, respectively. K2tu-PA and rt-PA showed a statistically significant higher thrombolytic activity than FK2tu-PA and scu-PA at the three tested doses (p <0.01). The thrombolytic activity of K2tu-PA was significantly higher than rt-PA at the two higher doses (p <0.01). Both K2tu-PA and rt-PA produced a statistically significant reduction of fibrinogen, α2-antiplasmin and plasminogen 3 h after the start of the infusions of the two higher doses. No statistically significant differences between K2tu-Pa and rt-PA were observed. Concomitant with the lower thrombolytic activity, the systemic proteolytic effects of FK2tu-PA and scu-PA were less pronounced. We conclude that the two HPAs we tested are effective thrombolytic agents. K2tu-PA deserves particular attention in future experiments.


1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (02) ◽  
pp. 247-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
H R Lijnen ◽  
L Nelles ◽  
B Van Hoef ◽  
F De Cock ◽  
D Collen

SummaryRecombinant chimaeric molecules between tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) or two chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (tcu-PA) have intact enzymatic properties of scu-PA or tcu-PA towards natural and synthetic substrates (Nelles et al., J Biol Chem 1987; 262: 10855-10862). In the present study, we have compared the reactivity with inhibitors of both the single chain and two chain variants of recombinant u-PA and two recombinant chimaeric molecules between t-PA and scu-PA (t-PA/u-PA-s: amino acids 1-263 of t-PA and 144-411 of u-PA; t-PA/u-PA-e: amino acids 1-274 of t-PA and 138-411 of u-PA). Incubation with human plasma in the absence of a fibrin clot for 3 h at 37° C at equipotent concentrations (50% clot lysis in 2 h), resulted in significant fibrinogen breakdown (to about 40% of the normal value) for all two chain molecules, but not for their single chain counterparts. Preincubation of the plasminogen activators with plasma for 3 h at 37° C, resulted in complete inhibition of the fibrinolytic potency of the two chain molecules but did not alter the potency of the single chain molecules. Inhibition of the two chain molecules occurred with a t½ of approximately 45 min. The two chain variants were inhibited by the synthetic urokinase inhibitor Glu-Gly-Arg-CH2CCl with apparent second-order rate constants of 8,000-10,000 M−1s−1, by purified α2-antiplasmin with second-order rate constants of about 300 M−1s−1, and by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) with second-order rate constants of approximately 2 × 107 M−1s−1.It is concluded that the reactivity of single chain and two chain forms of t-PA/u-PA chimaers with inhibitors is very similar to that of the single and two chain forms of intact u-PA.


1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (05) ◽  
pp. 867-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dingeman C Rijken ◽  
Gerard A W de Munk ◽  
Annie F H Jie

SummaryIn order to define the possible effects of heparin on the fibrinolytic system under physiological conditions, we studied the interactions of this drug with plasminogen and its activators at various ionic strengths. As reported in recent literature, heparin stimulated the activation of Lys-plasminogen by high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) two-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and two-chain tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) 10- to 17-fold. Our results showed, however, that this stimulation only occurred at low ionic strength and was negligible at a physiological salt concentration. Direct binding studies were performed using heparin-agarose column chromatography. The interaction between heparin and Lys-plasminogen appeared to be salt sensitive, which explains at least in part why heparin did not stimulate plasminogen activation at 0.15 M NaCl. The binding of u-PA and t-PA to heparinagarose was less salt sensitive. Results were consistent with heparin binding sites on both LMW u-PA and the amino-terminal part of HMW u-PA. Single-chain t-PA bound more avidly than two-chain t-PA. The interactions between heparin and plasminogen activators can occur under physiological conditions and may modulate the fibrinolytic system.


Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 994-999
Author(s):  
J Hauert ◽  
G Nicoloso ◽  
WD Schleuning ◽  
F Bachmann ◽  
M Schapira

To elucidate the mechanism by which activation of the contact system of blood coagulation leads to expression of fibrinolytic activity, we have determined the molecular characteristics of the plasminogen activators present in dextran sulfate-treated euglobulin fractions by electrophoretic-zymographic analysis and specific immunoadsorption. In addition to free and protease inhibitor-bound tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), dextran sulfate precipitates of euglobulins contained the complex formed between plasma kallikrein and C1-inhibitor, an indicator of prekallikrein activation. These precipitates also contained substantial fibrinolytic activity related to urinary-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). Autoradiographic analysis was then used to evaluate the cleavage of 125I-single-chain u-PA (prourokinase) in dextran sulfate euglobulins as well as after exposure to kallikrein or beta-factor XIIa. This analysis supported the conclusion that plasma kallikrein-mediated cleavage and activation of single-chain u-PA is the mechanism operative for the development of lytic activity in euglobulin precipitates following activation of the contact system.


1989 ◽  
Vol 62 (02) ◽  
pp. 742-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torgny Stigbrand ◽  
Lars Frängsmyr ◽  
Nils Bergsdorf ◽  
Per Wallen

SummaryA new set of monoclonal antibodies was generated against the tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). One of the antibodies, 1:3 C5, was found to be able to distinguish between the one- and two-chain form of t-PA and also exerted significant amidolytic inhibitory activity. Several of the antibodies, as judged from their binding properties in immunosorbent tests, were found to be suitable for immunoaffinity purification purposes, i.e. 1:3C5, 1:3 G5, and 1:2 B9. Three of the mabs, 1:2 B9, 1:3 G5 and 2:2 BIO, were selectively reactive with the A-chain of t-PA, whereas indirect evidences indicated 1:3 C5 to be reactive with a conformational epitope on the B-chain. Three of the antibodies were reactive with porcine t-PA. This new set of antibodies should prove useful for structure-function investigations of t-PA.


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