A Novel Thrombolytic and Anticoagulant Serine Protease from Polychaeta, Diopatra sugokai

Ischemic stroke can result from blockage of blood vessels, forming fibrin clots in the body and causing irreparable brain damage. Remedial thrombolytic agents or anticoagulants have been studied; however, because the FDA-approved tissue plasminogen activator has low efficacy and side effects, it is necessary to develop safer and more effective treatment candidates. This study aimed at assessing the fibrinolytic and anticoagulation features of a novel serine protease extracted and purified from Diopatra sugokai, a polychaeta that inhabits tidal flats. The purified serine protease was obtained through ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. Its molecular size was identified via SDS-PAGE. To characterize its enzymatic activities, the protease activity at various pH and temperatures, and in the presence of various inhibitors, was measured via azocasein assay. Its fibrinolytic activity and anticoagulant effect were assessed by fibrin zymography, fibrin plate assay, and fibrinogenolytic activity assays. The novel 38 kDa serine protease had strong indirect thrombolytic activity rather than direct activity over broad pH (4-10) and temperature (37°C-70°C) ranges. In addition, the novel serine protease exhibited anticoagulant activity by degrading the α-, β-, and γ-chains of fibrinogen. In addition, it did not produce cytotoxicity in endothelial cells. Therefore, this newly isolated serine protease is worthy of further investigation as a novel alkaline serine protease for thrombolytic therapy against brain ischemia.