Streptokinase - Biochemistry and Clinical Application

Plasminogen activation to plasmin is due to enzymatic cleavage of a single peptide bond in the zymogen molecule. Streptokinase is not an enzyme and its activation of plasminogen is indirect. Streptokinase forms stoichiometric complexes with plasmin and plasminogen and these complexes activate plasminogen to plasmin. Streptokinase is species selective in its action.