Plasmin (Last Updated - 3/30/2005)

-a glycoprotein
-non-specific protease
-plasminogen bound to fibrin (Ia) gets activated to this to initiate fibrinolysis (clot lysis)

-Mechanism:
     -dissolves clots via digestion of:
          A) Fibrin (Ia) &
               -Fibrin (Ia) has binding sites for either:
                    A) Plasminogen / Plasmin
                    B) Alpha-2-Anti-Plasmin
                    C) Thrombolytics (Ex.) t-PA)
               -each of these compete for the Fibrin (Ia) binding site
                    A) If Plasminogen / Plasmin wins --> clot lysis
                    B) If Alpha-2-Anti-Plasmin wins --> clot lysis inhibited
                    C) If thrombolytics win --> clot lysis
          B) some coag factors (esp. V & VIII)

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References:

Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacologic Basis Of Therapeutics - 10th Edition - 2001. Chapter 55.