The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor PAI-2 form a covalent complex that, upon binding to the uPA receptor (uPA-R), is cleaved into two fragments of molecular masses 70 kDa and 22 kDa. The 70-kDa fragment results from the interaction of the B chain of uPA and PAI-2 whereas the 22-kDa fragment is the A chain of the enzyme [13]. We prove that, at 37 degrees C, the 70-kDa fragment is released into the medium, whereas the 22-kDa fragment remains bound to the cell surface. uPA complexed with its other specific inhibitor, PAI-1, is cleaved into fragments of identical sizes, but the 70-kDa component is internalized via the alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor. At 4 degrees C, both uPA/PAI-2 complex degradation products remain bound to the uPA-R. We propose that the 70-kDa molecule, which lacks the uPA binding region for uPA-R, is bound to uPA-R via a new binding site, unmasked only when uPA-R is occupied by uPA/PAI-2 complexes.