What is "plasmin"

Plasmin \Plas"min\, n. (Physiol. Chem.) A proteid body, separated by some physiologists from blood plasma. It is probably identical with fibrinogen.

n. (context enzyme English) A proteolytic enzyme that dissolves the fibrin in blood clots.

n. an enzyme that dissolves the fibrin of blood clots [syn: fibrinolysin]

Plasmin is an important enzyme present in blood that degrades many blood plasma proteins, including fibrin clots. The degradation of fibrin is termed fibrinolysis. In humans, the plasmin protein is encoded by the PLG gene.