plasmin

Pronunciation: plaz′min

Definition: A serine proteinase catalyzing the hydrolysis of peptides and of esters of l-arginine and l-lysine and converting fibrin to soluble products; occurs in plasma as the precursor plasminogen (profibrinolysin) and is activated to plasmin by organic solvents, which remove an inhibitor, and by streptokinase, trypsin, and plasminogen activator, all cleaving a single arginyl-valyl bond; plasmin is responsible for the dissolution of blood clots.

Synonym(s): fibrinase2, fibrinolysin

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