cDNA sequence of human apolipoprotein(a) is homologous to plasminogen.
McLean J.W., Tomlison J.E., Kuang W.-J., Eaton D.L., Chen E.Y., Fless G.M., Scanu A.M., Lawn R.M.
Lipoprotein(a) is an LDL-like lipoprotein whose concentration in plasma is correlated with atherosclerosis. The characteristic protein component of lipoprotein(a) is apolipoprotein(a) which is disulphide-linked to apolipoprotein B-100. Sequencing of cloned human apolipoprotein(a) complementary DNA shows that it is very similar to human plasminogen. It contains a serine protease domain and two types of plasminogen-like kringle domains, one of which is present in 37 copies.