{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives: Direct fibrin-degrading proteases may provide a mechanistically distinct approach to clot proteolysis, but their development requires definition of catalytic behavior, fibrin selectivity, molecular identity, and safety. We characterized an activity-containing preparation from the marine polychaete Lepidasthenia izukai, designated LIZ. Methods: LIZ was obtained by ammonium sulfate fractionation and sequential chromatography. N-terminal sequencing, inhibitor profiling, chromogenic-substrate screening and S-2288 kinetics, fibrinogenolysis, direct fibrin-degradation assays, a κ-carrageenan rat-tail thrombosis model, and cell viability were evaluated. Results: The final preparation showed a predominant band at approximately 28 kDa. N-terminal sequencing yielded IMGGSEAS, providing sequence-level characterization without definitive molecular identification. PMSF abolished activity and DFP reduced it to 9.8%, supporting a serine-protease biochemical profile. For S-2288, Km was 0.029 ± 0.003 mM and apparent kcat/Km was 39.7 ± 4.3 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹. LIZ degraded fibrinogen Aα within 30 s and Bβ and γ within 20 min, decreased pre-formed fibrin-polymer turbidity, and degraded FXIIIa-cross-linked fibrin. In the pretreatment model, thrombotic tail length was 0.7 ± 1.0% with LIZ, 86.1 ± 3.2% with κ-carrageenan alone, and 0.5 ± 0.6% with uPA (n = 3/group). Conclusions: LIZ shows direct activity against structurally stabilized fibrin and proof-of-concept antithrombotic activity. However, the data do not establish definitive molecular identity, therapeutic thrombolysis, fibrin selectivity, relative potency, or a therapeutic safety window. Further molecular, pharmacological, and safety studies are required.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chosun University, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City 61452, Republic of Korea.",
    "Department of Integrative Biological Science & BK21 FOUR Educational Research Group for Age-Associated Disorder Control Technology, Chosun University, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City 61452, Republic of Korea."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sang-Gu Yun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jung Eun Park",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8789-9829"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3w23d2b2js6p1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/pharmaceutics18101294",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13708678",
  "id": "3w23d2b2js6p1",
  "issns": [
    "1999-4923"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42942825",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2720|Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis Mechanisms"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221539330",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13708678?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13708678",
  "pmid": "42942825",
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3w23d2b2js6p1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:12Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42942825",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42942825"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2720|Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis Mechanisms",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Biochemical and Functional Characterization of LIZ, a Marine-Derived Serine Protease That Degrades Cross-Linked Fibrin and Attenuates Experimental Thrombosis.",
  "title_text": "Biochemical and Functional Characterization of LIZ, a Marine-Derived Serine Protease That Degrades Cross-Linked Fibrin and Attenuates Experimental Thrombosis.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3w23d2b2js6p1",
  "venue": "Pharmaceutics",
  "versions": []
}