- Streptokinase dissolves blood clots by activating plasminogen, aiding in thrombolytic therapy.
- Streptokinase treats acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis.
General Information
- Synonyms: Streptococcal Plasminogen Activator.
- Biological Source:
- Derived from Streptococcus species (mainly Streptococcus pyogenes).
- Family: Streptococcaceae.
- Geographical Source:
- Produced in India, USA, China, Germany, Japan.
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Macroscopical Characters of Streptokinase
- Color: White to off-white powder.
- Texture: Fine, lyophilized powder.
- Taste: Tasteless.
- Odor: Odorless.
Chemical Constituents of Streptokinase
- Proteolytic enzyme: Streptokinases (a fibrinolytic enzyme).
- Molecular weight: ~47,000 Da.
- Co-factor: Requires human plasminogen to function.
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Mechanism of Action of Streptokinase
- Streptokinase activates plasminogen, which then converts into plasmin, breaking down fibrin clots and dissolving blood clots.
Preparation
- Bacterial Fermentation: Streptococcus pyogenes is cultured in a nutrient medium.
- Extraction: Enzyme is isolated from the bacterial culture.
- Purification: Precipitation and chromatographic techniques are used.
- Lyophilization: The enzyme is freeze-dried for pharmaceutical formulations.
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Evaluation
- Solubility: Soluble in water.
- Purity Tests:
- Fibrinolytic Assay: Measures clot-dissolving ability.
- SDS-PAGE Test: Confirms molecular weight and purity.
Preservation & Storage
- Stored at -20°C to preserve activity.
Therapeutic Uses
- Used in myocardial infarction (heart attack) treatment.
- Used in pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.
- Alternative to Urokinase for thrombolysis.
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Commercial Utility
- Used in pharmaceutical formulations (injectable thrombolytic agents).
- Used in research laboratories for clot studies.
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