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Updated: Oct 5, 2026

The Nijmegen Hemostasis Assay: Simultaneous Fluorogenic Measurement of Thrombin and Plasmin Generation in a Single Well
Published on: February 27, 2026
Fibrinogen alpha C domains contain cryptic plasminogen and tPA binding sites
1Biochemistry Department, Holland Laboratory, American Red Cross, 15601 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855, USA. tsiouriog@usa.redcross.org
Abstract:
Surface plasmon resonance and ELISA experiments revealed that recombinant fibrinogen alpha C fragment (residues A alpha 221-610) corresponding to the alpha C domain binds tPA and plasminogen with high affinity. This binding was found to be Lys-dependent and occurred via independent binding sites. Study with truncated variants of the alpha C fragment located these sites in its COOH-terminal half. Binding of tPA and plasminogen to these sites stimulated activation of the latter whereas proteolytic degradation of the alpha C fragment reduced this effect substantially, suggesting the importance of the alpha C domains in regulation of fibrinolysis.
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