Kallikrein from human plasma

General description

Kallikrein-related peptidases belong to the family of 15 highly conserved trypsin- or chymotrypsin-like serine proteases. Plasma kallikrein (PK) is a serine protease derived from plasma prekallikrein, a zymogen found at higher levels in blood circulation. The KLKB1 gene is located on the human chromosome at 4q35.2.

Application

Kallikrein from human plasma has been used:

• to culture human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line
• to study its effects on the cleavage of Neisserial heparin binding antigen (NHBA) from Neisseria meningitidis
• in peptidase inhibition assay

Biochem/physiol Actions

Plasma kallikrein (PK) is involved in the synthesis of bradykinin, maintaining the blood metabolite levels and hypertension. It also participates in the activation of coagulation factor XII, which promotes inflammation and the intrinsic coagulation pathway. PK controls proteolytic cascades in the cardiovascular system like the kallikrein-kinin system, renin-angiotensin system, fibrinolytic system, and the alternative complement pathway. It is involved in the cleavage of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) which suggests that plasma kallikrein may affect metabolism and diabetes.

Unit Definition

One unit will hydrolyze 1.0 μmole of N_α-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) to N_α-benzoyl-L-arginine and ethanol per min at pH 8.7 at 25°C.

Physical form

Solution in 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.8 with 100 mM NaCl.