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The Nijmegen Hemostasis Assay: Simultaneous Fluorogenic Measurement of Thrombin and Plasmin Generation in a Single Well
Published on: February 27, 2026
70
New insights into the structure and function of the plasminogen/plasmin system
Ruby H P Law1, Diana Abu-Ssaydeh, James C Whisstock
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|November 21, 2013
Summary
This review explores the structural basis of plasminogen activation, a crucial process for clot dissolution and tissue repair. New crystallographic and biochemical insights clarify the conformational changes involved in activating this important enzyme.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Plasminogen is the precursor to plasmin, an enzyme vital for breaking down fibrin clots, extracellular matrix, and proteins in immunity and tissue repair.
- Plasminogen activation involves a complex conformational change that is not fully understood.
- The enzyme comprises distinct domains: N-terminal Pan-apple (PAp), 5 kringle (KR), and serine protease (SP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of the structural basis for plasminogen activation.
- To incorporate new insights from recent crystallographic and biochemical studies.
- To elucidate the conformational changes critical for plasminogen activation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature.
- Analysis of crystallographic data.
- Interpretation of biochemical study findings.
Main Results:
- The review synthesizes recent findings on plasminogen's domain structure and its role in activation.
- New structural data provides a clearer picture of the conformational changes during activation.
- Understanding these changes is key to comprehending plasminogen's function.
Conclusions:
- Recent structural and biochemical studies have significantly advanced our understanding of plasminogen activation.
- The conformational changes in plasminogen are critical for its enzymatic function in fibrinolysis and tissue remodeling.
- Further research integrating structural and functional data will continue to refine our knowledge of this essential biological process.
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