Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA)

Tissue plasminogen activator is a protein involved in the breakdown of blood clots. Specifically, it is a serine protease (EC 3.4.21.68) found on endothelial cells, the cells that line the blood vessels. As an enzyme, it catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, the major enzyme responsible for clot breakdown. Because it works on the clotting system, tPA is used in clinical medicine to treat only embolic or thrombolytic stroke. Use is contraindicated in hemorrhagic stroke and head trauma.The classic role of tPA is in the clotting system. Specifically, tPA catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin. It does so by cleaving the single-chained plasminogen into two chains. These two chains are linked by a disulfide bond and the resulting molecule is called plasmin.