TPA (36-310) corresponds to the N-terminal portion of the full-length PLAT protein (UniProt ID: P00750). Key features include:
Finger Domain (36–90): Mediates fibrin binding, enhancing plasminogen activation in clot dissolution .
EGF-like Domain (91–173): Facilitates receptor interactions and cellular uptake .
Kringle Domains (174–310): Stabilize plasminogen binding and regulate enzymatic activity .
Enzymatic Activity:
TPA (36-310) catalyzes the cleavage of plasminogen to plasmin via hydrolysis of the Arg561-Val562 bond, initiating fibrinolysis. Its activity is fibrin-dependent, reducing systemic bleeding risks compared to full-length TPA .
Thrombosis Models: Used to study clot lysis mechanisms in vitro and ex vivo .
Structural Biology: Crystallographic studies of kringle-fibrin interactions .
Drug Development: Screened for mutants with enhanced stability or reduced immunogenicity .
Expression: Optimized in HEK-293 cells for eukaryotic glycosylation, critical for activity .
Purification: Affinity chromatography using nickel-NTA (His-tag) or Protein A/G (Fc tag) .
Formulation: Stabilized in MES buffer (pH 5.0–5.5) with glycerol (30–40%), CaCl₂ (5 mM), and DTT (1 mM) .
Parameter | TPA (36-310) | Full-Length TPA |
---|---|---|
Size | ~35–40 kDa | 61–70 kDa (glycosylated) |
Fibrin Specificity | Moderate | High |
Half-Life (in Plasma) | ~15 min | 4–8 min |
Therapeutic Potential | Limited | FDA-approved for stroke |
Tissue-type plasminogen activator, EC 3.4.21.68, tPA, t-PA, t-plasminogen activator, TPA, T-PA, DKFZp686I03148, PLAT and tPA, Alteplase, Reteplase, Plasminogen Activator, Tissue, Plasminogen/Activator Kringle.
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TPA (36-310) Human recombinant protein represents a specific fragment of human Tissue Plasminogen Activator, containing amino acids 36-310 of the full-length protein. This serine protease (EC 3.4.21.68) plays crucial physiological roles including:
Converting plasminogen to plasmin, a fibrinolytic enzyme that degrades fibrin clots
Participating in cell migration processes
Contributing to tissue remodeling mechanisms
The biological significance of TPA extends beyond simple fibrinolysis. The precise regulation of TPA activity is essential for homeostasis, as increased enzymatic activity leads to hyperfibrinolysis (manifesting as excessive bleeding), while decreased activity results in hypofibrinolysis, potentially causing thrombosis or embolism .
The production of high-quality TPA (36-310) Human for research requires sophisticated expression systems and purification methods:
Production Stage | Methodology | Key Considerations |
---|---|---|
Expression System | Sf9 Baculovirus cells | Enables proper eukaryotic post-translational modifications |
Protein Engineering | 284 amino acids (36-310) with C-terminal His-tag | Facilitates purification while preserving function |
Purification Process | Proprietary chromatographic techniques | Leverages His-tag for affinity purification |
Quality Control | SDS-PAGE, activity assays | Typically >90% purity standard |
This expression system is specifically selected because it facilitates proper protein folding and post-translational modifications, particularly glycosylation patterns that are important for maintaining TPA's native structure and function .
Maintaining optimal stability of TPA (36-310) Human requires careful attention to storage conditions:
Storage Duration | Recommended Condition | Additional Recommendations |
---|---|---|
Short-term (2-4 weeks) | 4°C | Store in original formulation |
Long-term (>4 weeks) | -20°C | Add carrier protein (0.1% HSA or BSA) |
The protein is typically provided in a stabilizing formulation containing 50mM MES (pH 5.5), 10% glycerol, 100mM NaCl, and 5mM CaCl2, which helps preserve its native conformation. Multiple freeze-thaw cycles should be strictly avoided as they can significantly compromise protein structure and activity .
TPA plays a central role in stroke treatment research, particularly in studies examining thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke. Methodological approaches include:
Particularly noteworthy is research examining telehealth-guided provider-to-provider communication (TeleED) to improve TPA administration in rural settings. These studies address healthcare disparities in stroke treatment access and have examined outcomes including mortality, functional recovery (modified Rankin Scale), and appropriate triaging to specialized stroke centers .
Though the search results don't provide explicit methodologies for measuring TPA activity, researchers typically employ several approaches to assess enzymatic function:
Chromogenic substrate assays measuring the conversion of specific peptide substrates
Fluorogenic substrate assays with increased sensitivity for detecting proteolytic activity
Fibrin plate assays to visualize and quantify fibrinolytic activity
Plasminogen activation kinetics measured through time-course experiments
Zymography techniques for visualizing enzyme activity in gel matrices
When designing experiments to measure TPA activity, researchers must consider factors such as pH optimization, calcium dependence, potential inhibitors present in the experimental system, and appropriate positive and negative controls.
Advanced structure-function analysis of TPA (36-310) Human typically involves:
Domain-specific mutagenesis to identify critical residues
Comparative analysis with other serine proteases
Biochemical characterization of substrate binding and catalysis
Structural biology approaches (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM)
Computational modeling of protein-substrate interactions
These approaches help elucidate how specific regions within the 36-310 fragment contribute to substrate recognition, catalytic efficiency, and regulation of enzymatic activity.
For research applications requiring optimal TPA (36-310) Human stability and activity, formulation parameters are critical:
Component | Concentration | Function |
---|---|---|
MES buffer | 50mM, pH 5.5 | Maintains optimal pH environment |
Glycerol | 10% | Prevents freezing damage and stabilizes protein structure |
NaCl | 100mM | Maintains physiologically relevant ionic strength |
CaCl2 | 5mM | Stabilizes protein structure and may support activity |
When designing experiments, researchers should be aware that alterations to this formulation might significantly impact protein stability and function. Consideration should be given to potential buffer interactions with experimental systems, and compatibility testing may be necessary when introducing TPA into complex experimental media or in vivo models .
When investigating TPA (36-310) Human in complex biological systems, researchers should consider:
Physiological relevance: Design experiments that recapitulate relevant aspects of the in vivo environment
Concentration optimization: Determine appropriate TPA concentrations that balance between detectable activity and physiological relevance
Timing considerations: Account for the rapid kinetics of TPA-mediated plasminogen activation
Inhibitor controls: Include experiments with specific TPA inhibitors to confirm observed effects are TPA-dependent
Comparative analysis: Consider parallel experiments with full-length TPA to identify fragment-specific effects
These methodological approaches help ensure robust, reproducible findings when studying this enzymatically active fragment.
When conducting research on TPA, awareness of various nomenclature systems is essential for comprehensive literature searches:
Category | Names and Identifiers |
---|---|
Primary Names | Tissue Plasminogen Activator, TPA, Tissue-type plasminogen activator |
Enzyme Classification | EC 3.4.21.68 |
Abbreviations | tPA, t-PA, t-plasminogen activator, TPA, T-PA |
Gene Symbols | PLAT, DKFZp686I03148 |
Pharmaceutical Names | Alteplase, Reteplase |
Descriptive Terms | Plasminogen Activator, Tissue, Plasminogen/Activator Kringle |
This diverse nomenclature reflects TPA's significance across multiple research disciplines. When conducting literature searches, incorporation of these various terms ensures comprehensive coverage of relevant publications .
Current research examining TPA in stroke treatment focuses on several frontier areas:
Optimizing delivery systems: Telehealth approaches (TeleED) are being evaluated to improve timely TPA administration in rural and underserved areas
Refining treatment windows: Research continues to investigate optimal timing for TPA administration relative to symptom onset
Personalized medicine approaches: Studies examining patient-specific factors that influence TPA efficacy and safety
Combination therapies: Investigating TPA in conjunction with other treatments to enhance efficacy or reduce side effects
Risk stratification: Developing better predictive models for identifying patients most likely to benefit from TPA
These research directions aim to maximize the benefits of TPA while minimizing risks, particularly the risk of intracranial hemorrhage which remains a significant concern.
While not specific to TPA (36-310) Human, it's worth noting that T-Pattern Analysis (TPA) represents an emerging mixed-methods analytical approach applicable to biological research. This methodology:
Alternates between qualitative and quantitative analyses
Collects and analyzes time-stamped data (T-data)
Detects temporal patterns using specialized algorithms
Utilizes dedicated software (THEME™) for visualization and analysis
This analytical approach, while sharing the TPA abbreviation with Tissue Plasminogen Activator, represents a distinct methodological framework that could potentially be applied to study temporal patterns in biological systems involving plasminogen activation .
The most promising advances in TPA research will likely emerge from interdisciplinary collaborations that combine:
Structural biology and biochemistry: Elucidating structure-function relationships at the molecular level
Cell biology: Understanding TPA's roles in cell migration and tissue remodeling
Translational medicine: Bridging basic research findings to clinical applications
Health services research: Optimizing delivery systems for TPA-based therapies
Bioinformatics: Analyzing large datasets to identify patient-specific factors affecting TPA efficacy
Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) is a serine protease enzyme involved in the breakdown of blood clots. It plays a crucial role in the fibrinolytic system by converting plasminogen to plasmin, which then degrades fibrin clots. The recombinant form of tPA, specifically the fragment spanning amino acids 36 to 310, has been engineered for various research and therapeutic applications.
The recombinant tPA fragment (36-310 a.a.) is a human protein expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells. This fragment includes the essential domains responsible for its activity, such as the kringle domains and the serine protease domain. The kringle domains are involved in binding to fibrin, while the serine protease domain is responsible for the enzymatic activity that converts plasminogen to plasmin .
The recombinant tPA (36-310 a.a.) is produced with a His tag at the C-terminus, facilitating its purification through affinity chromatography. The protein is typically purified to over 90% purity and has an endotoxin level of less than 1 EU/µg, making it suitable for various biochemical assays and research applications .
Recombinant tPA is widely used in research to study the mechanisms of fibrinolysis and to develop therapeutic agents for thrombolytic therapy. It is also used in high-throughput screening assays to identify potential inhibitors or enhancers of tPA activity. In clinical settings, tPA is used as a thrombolytic agent to treat acute ischemic stroke by dissolving blood clots and restoring blood flow to the brain .
tPA exerts its effect by binding to fibrin in a blood clot and converting the entrapped plasminogen to plasmin. Plasmin then degrades the fibrin matrix of the clot, leading to clot dissolution. This process is crucial for maintaining vascular patency and preventing conditions such as stroke and myocardial infarction .