| abstract |
The present invention provides a protein reagent having the ability to bind to tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and/or pro-tPA reversibly comprising a Kunitz-type proteinease inhibitor having a molecular weight in the range l7-23,000 daltons, being non-cytotoxic, having the ability to inhibit tPA, pro-tPA and trypsin, but not urokinase or thrombin, having two disulphide bridges and being substantially free from proteases. Such an inhibitor may be derived from seeds of an Erythrina species. |