Question

A patient was administered with an enzyme ‘X’ after a heart attack; this enzyme is known as ‘clot buster’. Identify the enzyme ‘X’?

• A. Protease
• B. Thrombokinase
• C. Streptokinase
• D. Hydrolase

Answer 1

The correct option is C Streptokinase

Clot buster drugs are used to remove blood clots. Clots present in the bloodstream can fatally affect the heart and the brain. When the clot blocks the blood flow to the heart it leads to heart attack. The lack of oxygenated blood supply to the cardiac tissues may lead to irreparable damage and even death.

Streptokinase is an enzyme obtained from the bacterium Streptococcus. It is used as a clot buster drug that helps to remove clots in the blood vessels.

Proteases are enzymes that break the peptide bonds of proteins.

Thrombokinase is an enzyme essential for blood clotting. It converts prothrombin into thrombin in the presence of calcium ions. The thrombin in turn converts the inactive fibrinogens in plasma into fibrins which form the clot.

Hydrolases are enzymes that catalyse the cleavage of a covalent bond using water.

Hence, the enzyme X is identified as streptokinase.