A new recombinant thrombolytic and antithrombotic agent with higher fibrin affinity--a staphylokinase variant. I. In vitro study

J Thromb Haemost. 2005 Oct;3(10):2156-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2005.01480.x. Epub 2005 Sep 7.

Abstract

We attempted to construct a new recombinant protein characterized by fibrin-specific properties of plasminogen activation combined with antithrombin and antiplatelet activities. To the C-terminal part of recombinant staphylokinase (r-SAK), which is a promising profibrinolytic agent, we assembled: (i) the Kringle 2 domain (K2) of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), containing a fibrin-specific binding site, (ii) the RGD sequence (Arg-Gly-Asp) for the prevention of platelet aggregation and (iii) the antithrombotic agent - hirudin. The cDNA for hybrid protein SAK-RGD-K2-Hir was cloned into pESP-3 yeast protein expression vector. The introduction of K2 t-PA, RGD sequence and hirudin into r-SAK molecule did not alter the SAK activity. The plasminogen activation rate (determined by K(M) and K(cat)) of SAK-RGD-K2-Hir was not significantly different from that of r-SAK. Affinity and binding strength of the recombinant protein to fibrin immobilized on the biosensor were higher than to r-SAK. We observed a higher clot lysis potency of SAK-RGD-K2-Hir as evidenced by a faster and more profound lysis of 125I-labeled human fibrin clots. The potency of thrombin inhibition by the hirudin part of the recombinant fusion protein SAK-RGD-K2-Hir was the same as that of r-Hir alone. In conclusion, the results of the in vitro study suggest that the SAK-RGD-K2-Hir construct can be a more potent and faster-acting thrombolytic agent with antithrombin and antiplatelet properties compared with standard r-SAK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Drug Design
  • Fibrin / metabolism*
  • Fibrinolysis
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / metabolism
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hirudins / genetics
  • Hirudins / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Metalloendopeptidases / genetics*
  • Metalloendopeptidases / metabolism
  • Metalloendopeptidases / therapeutic use
  • Oligopeptides / genetics
  • Oligopeptides / therapeutic use
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Thrombin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Thrombolytic Therapy / methods*
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / genetics
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Hirudins
  • Oligopeptides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid
  • Fibrin
  • Thrombin
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator
  • Metalloendopeptidases
  • auR protein, Staphylococcus aureus