A kringle-containing protease with plasminogen-like activity in the basal chordate Branchiostoma belcheri

Plg (plasminogen), a member of the serine protease superfamily, is a key component constituting the fibrinolytic system, and its evolutionary origin remains unknown during the course of animal evolution. In the present study, we isolated a cDNA, designated BbPlgl, encoding a kringle-containing protease with plasminogen-like activity from the basal chordate Branchiostoma belcheri. The deduced protein, BbPlgl, consisted of 430 amino acids, which is structurally characterized by the presence of an N-terminal signal peptide of 16 amino acids, 2 kringle domains with a Lys-binding site structure, a serine protease domain with the putative tPA (tissue plasminogen activator)-cleavage site (between Arg²⁹⁷ and Val²⁹⁸), the catalytic triad His²³⁷-Asp²⁸⁸-Ser³⁷⁹ expected for protease function, and a potential N-linked glycosylation site, all characteristic of Plgs. Besides, the recombinant refolded BbPlgl was readily activated by human uPA (urokinase plasminogen activator), and exhibited Plg-like activity. BbPlgl was also able to auto-activate at neutral and alkaline pH at 4°C without the addition of uPA, and the activation was accelerated by addition of human uPA. These results demonstrate that BbPlgl is a novel member of the Plg family, with a domain structure of K-K-SP (kringle-kringle-serine protease) lacking the PAN domain, pushing the evolutionary origin of Plg to the protochordate. In addition, BbPlgl displays a tissue-specific expression pattern in B. belcheri, with the most abundant expression in the hepatic caecum and hind-gut, agreeing with the notion that the hepatic caecum of amphioxus is the precursor of the vertebrate liver.