Reaction of alpha2-macroglobulin Homologs in Self Defense System

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The reaction mechanism and the biological activities of the unique proteinase inhibitor alpha-2-macroglobulin were studied in collaboration with Professors Peter Armstrong and Ragnar Osterberg. The rates of bait region cleavage, thiolester cleavage, and that of structural change were determined by using specific probes for each step for the first time since the discovery of this protein in 1960's. The intramolecular events triggered by the bait region cleavage reaction can now be described in clearer molecular terms than before. The biological use of this unique mechanism as the carrier of weakly immunogenic peptide vaccines was clearly demonstrated and being further developed to include the neurite extension activity of this protein.