Description
Urokinase is a serine protease (EC 3.4.21.73). Urokinase was originally isolated from human urine, but is present in several physiological locations, such as blood stream and the extracellular matrix. The primary physiological substrate is plasminogen, which is an inactive form (zymogen) of the serine protease plasmin. Activation of plasmin triggers a proteolysis cascade that, depending on the physiological environment, participates in thrombolysis or extracellular matrix degradation. This links urokinase to vascular diseases and cancer.
Product Overview
Urokinase from human urine
Form
Lyophilized from 1 mL of 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 with 100 mM NaCl, 0.1% PEG 6000, and 200 mM mannitol
Enzyme Commission Number
EC 3.4.21.73
Activity
> 500 units/mg protein
Purity
Purity by SDS Electrophoresis ≧ 95 %
Unit Definition
One unit will activate that amount of plasminogen which will produce a ΔA275 of 1.0 per ml per minute at pH 7.5 at 37 °C, when measuring perchloric acid soluble products from α-casein (1 cm light path).
Pathway
ATF-2 transcription factor network, organism-specific biosystem; Blood Clotting Cascade, organism-specific biosystem; Complement and coagulation cascades, organism-specific biosystem.
Function
protein binding; serine-type endopeptidase activity.
Synonyms
Urokinase; EC 3.4.21.73; urokinase-type plasminogen activator; uPA; U-plasminogen activator; Cellular plasminogen activator; Urinary plasminogen activator