plasmin; fibrinolysin

Function

• plasmin dissolves the fibrin of blood clots & acts as a proteolytic factor in a variety of other processes including embryonic development, tissue remodeling, tumor invasion, & inflammation
• in ovulation, plasmin weakens the walls of the Graafian follicle
• plasmin activates the urokinase-type plasminogen activator, collagenases & several complement zymogens, such as complement C1 & complement C5
• cleavage of fibronectin & laminin leads to cell detachment & apoptosis
• plasmin also cleaves fibrin, thrombospondin & von Willebrand factor
• role of plasmin in tissue remodeling & tumor invasion may be modulated by CSPG4
• preferential cleavage: Lys-|-Xaa > Arg-|-Xaa
• higher selectivity than trypsin
• converts fibrin into soluble products
• substrates include fibrin & other matrix proteins & amyloid A4 peptide (both monomeric & fibrils in vitro
• plasmin activity inhibited by SERPINE2
• plasmin is inactivated by alpha-2-antiplasmin immediately after dissociation from a clot

Expression

• plasmin is generated on surfaces, either through binding of its precursor plasminogen to fibrin or to the surface of platelets

More general terms

• serine protease trypsin family
• plasma protein
• fibrinolytic agent (thrombolytic agent)

More specific terms

• ocriplasmin

Additional terms

• complement cascade
• fibrin
• fibrinolysis
• plasminogen; contains: plasmin heavy chain A; activation peptide; angiostatin; plasmin light chain B (PLG)
• platelet

Database

• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P00747.html