Prevention of Plasmin Autodigestion by Human Plasma α2-Macroglobulin

Abstract

The autodigestion of plasmin in neutral solution at 37.degree. C and prevention of plasmin autodigestion by methylamine were confirmed by using .rho.-tosyl-L-arginine-methyl ester as a substrate of plasmin. The autodigestion of plasmin was prevented by human plasma .alpha.2-macroglobulin which has been reported as an antiplasmin of immediate and reversible type, but was not prevented by .alpha.1-antitrypsin which has been reported as an antiplasmin of slow and irreversible type.