e-Amino-n-caproic Acid

ε-Amino-n-caproic Acid (EACA) is an antifibrinolytic agent shown to enhance the activation of urinary-type and tissue-type plasminogen, while inhibiting plasminogen activation induced by streptokinase through a kringle-dependent mechanism. Believed to act as a lysine analog that competitively inhibits basic carboxypeptidases, and promotes the rapid dissociation of plasmin by inhibiting activation of plasminogen by streptokinase. Incorporation of EACA into short polypeptide fragments with hydrophobic amino acids yielded cytotoxic compounds against MCF-7 breast cells and fibroblast cells. These factors make EACA a potentially useful compound for research in areas such as: oncology, immunology, and in the general elucidation of biochemical pathways.