Urokinase

Urokinase (also known as urokinase-type plasminogen activator, uPA) is a serine protease that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. uPA interacts with a receptor present on cell membranes known as the urokinase receptor (uPAR). This interaction restricts plasminogen activation to the vicinity of the cell surface and also initiates various signal transduction cascades within the cell. Urokinase activity influences extracellular matrix remodeling, cell adhesion, migration and invasion, making it a therapeutic target of interest for cancer research.

Urokinase activity is inhibited by two serine protease inhibitors - plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and -2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2). PAI-1 induces the internalization of the uPA-uPAR complex and recycling of uPAR; PAI-2 also complexes with uPA-uPAR but is not internalized. Expression of the uPA receptor varies between cell types, and it is often overexpressed by malignant tumor cells.

External sources of pharmacological information for Urokinase :

• BJP Guide

Literature for Urokinase

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Cancer Research Product Guide

A collection of over 750 products for cancer research, the guide includes research tools for the study of:

• Cancer Metabolism
• Epigenetics in Cancer
• Receptor Signaling
• Cell Cycle and DNA Damage Repair
• Angiogenesis
• Invasion and Metastasis

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Urokinase Gene Data