Bikunin (Bk) is a Künitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor, which occurs in human plasma, mainly as covalent complexes with one or two of the three peptide heavy chains. The leading member of this glycoprotein family is inter-alpha-inhibitor (I alpha I), which consists of two heavy chains (H1 and H2) linked to Bk. Bk carries a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain, which is linked by ester bonds to the heavy chains of I alpha I.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBikunin (BK) is a Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor responsible for most of the antitryptic activity of urine and so is known as the urinary trypsin inhibitor. As its excretion increases in inflammatory conditions, it is often considered to be a positive acute phase protein (APP). However, the gene for BK is downregulated in inflammation.
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