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Local synthesis of plasminogen by the seminiferous tubules of the testis
Author(s) -
Saksela O.,
Vihko K.K.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(86)80810-9
Subject(s) - plasmin , plasminogen activator , urokinase , lysine , chemistry , medicine , secretion , endocrinology , fibrinolysis , biochemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , amino acid
Plasminogen activation occurs through conversion of plasminogen to plasmin by plasminogen activators. In adult mammals, liver has been the only known site for plasminogen synthesis. Seminiferous tubules secrete plasminogen activator, but are behind a barrier that excludes the entrance of many macromolecules to this tissue. Therefore, it became of interest to study the existence of plasminogen in this system. After metabolic labeling, a 90 kDa lysine‐binding polypeptide was found. This protein could be immunoblotted by anti‐plasminogen antibody, and was shown to possess urokinase‐dependent proteolytic activity. The findings suggest that plasminogen is synthesized by seminiferous tubules. We propose that local plasminogen synthesis may occur in tissues which are separated by specific anatomical barriers.