Kenji Tanaka

Secretory production of recombinant urokinase-type plasminogen activator-annexin V chimeras in Pichia pastoris.

To produce a thrombi-targeting plasminogen activator, we expressed a fused gene that contains a modified pre-sequence of Mucor pussilus rennin (MPR) followed by a chimeric gene of single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA)::annexin V (AV). The fused gene was ligated into an integrative vector, under the control of the alcohol oxidase 1 (AOX1) promoter (p), and transformed into Pichia pastoris. Transformants were monitored for the secretion of fibrinolytic activity. The highest expressing clone, HB225, secreted as much as 600 international units (IU) of fibrinolytic activity per ml of culture medium under optimal conditions. It contained three tandem copies of the full-size vector disruptively integrated into the AOX1 sequence. Western blot analysis revealed that the secreted chimera was highly susceptible to proteolysis. Addition of excess amino acids (aa) to the culture medium minimized the degree of proteolysis. Two major species of chimera, 85 and 65 kDa, were then isolated from the culture medium. The former was the intact form consisting of a single-chain and showing full enzyme activity after activation by plasmin. The latter was an enzymatically processed form consisting of two chains held by a disulfide bond, having full enzyme activity without activation. Both chimeras exhibited calcium-dependent phospholipid (PL)-binding affinities similar to the parent AV.

Thrombolytic effect of single-chain pro-urokinase in a rabbit jugular vein thrombosis model

The thrombolytic effect of single-chain pro-urokinase (SCPU) was examined in the rabbit using a jugular vein thrombosis model. Infusion of a low dose (120,000 IU/kg) of either urokinase (UK) or SCPU did not produce any significant thrombolysis. However, UK administration at such a low dose caused 20% degradation of circulating fibrinogen. A high dose (480,000 IU/kg) caused significant thrombolysis. The degree of fibrinogenolysis was about 20% in SCPU, but about 80% in UK. The thrombolytic efficiency of SCPU was thus about 3 times larger than that of UK. Analysis of fibrinolytic parameters such as plasminogen, alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor, etc. suggested that UK caused systemic activation of the fibrinolytic system, but SCPU, locally limited activation on the fibrin surface (fibrinolysis). These results indicate that SCPU represents a highly efficient thrombolytic agent without producing fibrinogenolysis.

Selective distribution of fibronectin to a tumor-cell line

Distribution of plasma fibronectin in Yoshida sarcoma-bearing rats was studied. Fibronectin from human plasma labelled with 125I was administered intravenously to the tumor bearing-rats. The ratios of specific radioactivity (cpm/g) of the tumor to that of blood or liver increased in the time course after the administration. Consequently, 48 h later, the tumor/blood and the tumor/liver ratios were estimated to be 4.6 and 2.8, respectively. In contrast, the liver/blood ratio did not increase during the experimental period. Similar results were also obtained by the administration of fibronectin from rat plasma. Whole-body autoradiography also suggested such a selective distribution. However, 125I-labelled albumin was not localized in the tumor.