Antibodies have been developed against the different molecular forms of
urokinase using synthetic peptides as immunogens. The peptides were
synthesized specifically to represent those regions of the urokinase
molecules which are exposed in the three-dimensional configuration of the
molecule and are uniquely homologous to urokinase. Antibodies are
directed against the lysine 158-isoleucine 159 peptide bond which is
cleaved during activation from the single-chain (ScuPA) form to the
bioactive double chain (54 KDa and 33 KDa) forms of urokinase and against
the lysine 135 lysine 136 bond that is cleaved in the process of removing
the alpha-chain from the 54 KDa form to produce the 33 KDa form of
urokinase. These antibodies enable the direct measurement of the
different molecular forms of urokinase from small samples of conditioned
medium harvested from cell cultures.