Plat encodes a key enzyme of the fibrinolytic pathway. The plasminogen activator, tissue undergoes proteolytic processing by plasmin to generate a heterodimeric serine protease that cleaves the proenzyme plasminogen to produce plasmin, a protease that is required to break down fibrin clots. Additionally, the encoded protein is involved in other biological processes such as synaptic plasticity, cell migration and tissue remodeling. Mice lacking the encoded protein display a reduction in long-term potentiation in hippocampus and conversely, transgenic mice overexpressing the encoded protein have increased and prolonged long-term potentiation.