Description
Mouse Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (A2M) is a serum protease inhibitor that consists of two major polypeptides with molecular weights of approximately 163 kDa and 35 kDa together with a minor polypeptide of 185 kDa. A2M is able to inactivate an enormous variety of proteinases (including serine-, cysteine-, aspartic-, and metalloproteinases). A2M uses a bait region to bind proteinases. The proteinase-A2M complex is recognized by macrophage receptors and cleared from the system. A2M function as an inhibitor of coagulation by inhibiting thrombin. A2M also functions as an inhibitor of fibrinolysis by inhibiting plasmin and kallikrein