Binding and Activation of Human Plasminogen by <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>

Abstract

The first evidence of the interaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with the plasminogen system is herein reported. By FACScan analysis and affinity blotting, lysine-dependent binding of plasminogen to M. tuberculosis was demonstrated. The binding molecules were 30-, 60-, and 66-kDa proteins present in cell wall and soluble protein extracts. The activation of plasminogen, which occurred only in presence of fibrin and was not inhibited by the host serpin, alpha(2)-antiplasmin, was also demonstrated.