Poly-lysines as modifiers of one- and two-chain tissue-type plasminogen activator activity

Poly-L-lysine and certain mixed polymers of L-lysine and other amino acids modify the activity of one- and two-chain tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) towards its substrates. In particular the rate of plasminogen activation in the presence of optimal poly-L-lysine concentrations, is increased by approximately 100-fold. In contrast, activity towards a small synthetic substrate is inhibited by 85%. These effects are observed with both the one- and two-chain forms of t-PA. The use of poly-L-lysines in a coupled assay system optimised for t-PA and plasmin activities allows the reproducible assay of t-PA at the 10(-12) to 10(-13) molar level.