plasminogen

American  

[plaz-min-uh-juhn, -jen] / plæzˈmɪn ə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. the blood substance that when activated forms plasmin.

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plasminogen British  

/ plæzˈmɪnədʒən /

noun

1. biochem a zymogen found in blood that gives rise to plasmin on activation

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Etymology

Origin of plasminogen

First recorded in 1940–45; plasmin + -o- + -gen

Example Sentences

The patient was still within the three-hour window from his first symptom, and the ER staff put him on the clot-busting treatment known as tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA.

From US News • Jul. 8, 2015

He had to decide whether or not to give her the tissue plasminogen activator or tPA shot, which would break up the clot from her ischemic stroke and restore blood flow to her brain.

From Washington Times • May 11, 2015

To develop this approach, it will be necessary to develop small molecule inhibitors of pericyte death that could be administered, perhaps with tissue plasminogen activator, soon after a stroke has occurred.

From Nature • Apr. 4, 2014

Tissue plasminogen activator is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, the primary enzyme that breaks down clots.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Then researchers determined that a drug called tissue plasminogen activator, or TPA, which has been used for years to treat heart attacks, can also alter the course of a stroke.

From Time Magazine Archive