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Wei D, Lyu J, Wang B, He Y, Bi L. Hirudin enhances perforator flap survival: Clinical application report and mechanistic exploration. JOURNAL OF STOMATOLOGY, ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY 2024; 125:101868. [PMID: 38588856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jormas.2024.101868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Hirudin, a potent anticoagulant, is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat thrombotic conditions and prevent postoperative thrombosis. Coagulation-related vascular complications are a common cause of perforator flaps failure. This study explores hirudin's potential to enhance flap growth by mitigating coagulation-related issues. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were divided into GroupⅠ(hirudin group) and GroupⅡ(control). Laboratory tests covered red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), platelet count (PLT), monocyte count (MONO), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and D-Dimer. Clinical parameters, including capillary refill time (CRT), flap swelling, and survival status, were evaluated. Animal experiments used Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to establish random skin flaps. The experimental side received hirudin injection, while the control side received saline. Flaps were photographed to calculate survival rate, and CD31 immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was performed to calculate microvessel density (MVD). RESULTS The study, with 29 patients, found significant CRT differences between groups on postoperative days 2 and 6 (p = 0.027; p = 0.019), favoring GroupⅠ. Swelling severity varied significantly over time; GroupⅡhad more pronounced swelling. GroupⅠshowed superior flap growth with fewer complications, statistically significant (p = 0.033). Specific lab indicators (MONO, PT, and FIB) were significant at certain times. In animal experiments, the experimental side consistently had higher flap survival and slightly increased CD31 expression at various times, with higher MVD on days 2 and 6. CONCLUSIONS Hirudin enhances flap survival through diverse mechanisms, supporting its role as a complementary approach in perforator flap surgeries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wei
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, PR China
| | - Jiong Lyu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, PR China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, PR China
| | - Yong He
- Laboratory Animal Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, PR China
| | - Ling Bi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, PR China.
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2
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Chen TY, Shyur E, Ma TH, Wijeyewickrema L, Lin SW, Kao MR, Liang PH, Shie JJ, Chuang EY, Liou JP, Hsieh YSY. Effect of Sulfotyrosine and Negatively Charged Amino Acid of Leech-Derived Peptides on Binding and Inhibitory Activity Against Thrombin. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300744. [PMID: 38055188 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Hirudins, natural sulfo(glyco)proteins, are clinical anticoagulants that directly inhibit thrombin, a key coagulation factor. Their potent thrombin inhibition primarily results from antagonistic interactions with both the catalytic and non-catalytic sites of thrombin. Hirudins often feature sulfate moieties on Tyr residues in their anionic C-terminus region, enabling strong interactions with thrombin exosite-I and effectively blocking its engagement with fibrinogen. Although sulfotyrosines have been identified in various hirudin variants, the precise relationship between sulfotyrosine and the number of negatively charged amino acids within the anionic-rich C-terminus peptide domain for the binding of thrombin has remained elusive. By using Fmoc-SPPS, hirudin dodecapeptides homologous to the C-terminus of hirudin variants from various leech species were successfully synthesized, and the effect of sulfotyrosine and the number of negatively charged amino acids on hirudin-thrombin interactions was investigated. Our findings did not reveal any synergistic effect between an increasing number of sulfotyrosines or negatively charged amino acids and their inhibitory activity on thrombin or fibrinolysis in the assays, despite a higher binding level toward thrombin in the sulfated dodecapeptide Hnip_Hirudin was observed in SPR analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Yin Chen
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Eileen Shyur
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hsuan Ma
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Lakshmi Wijeyewickrema
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, 3086, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sheng-Wei Lin
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Rong Kao
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Pi-Hui Liang
- School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Jie Shie
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Er-Yuan Chuang
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Ping Liou
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Yves S Y Hsieh
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Centre, Stockholm, SE10691, Sweden
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3
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Shi P, Wei J, You H, Chen S, Tan F, Lu Z. Cloning, characterization, and heterologous expression of a candidate Hirudin gene from the salivary gland transcriptome of Hirudo nipponia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4943. [PMID: 36973525 PMCID: PMC10042815 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32303-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractHirudin is a pharmacologically active substance in leeches with potent blood anticoagulation properties. Although recombinant hirudin production isolated from Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus and Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson is known, to our knowledge, this study is the first to report recombinant hirudin expression and production from Hirudo nipponia Whitman. Thus, the present study aimed to clone and characterize the full-length cDNA of a candidate hirudin gene (c16237_g1), which is localized on the salivary gland transcriptome of H. nipponia, and further evaluate its recombinant production using a eukaryotic expression system. The 489-bp cDNA possessed several properties of the hirudin “core” motifs associated with binding to the thrombin catalytic pocket. A fusion expression vector (pPIC9K-hirudin) was constructed and successfully transformed into Pichia pastoris strain GS115 via electroporation. Sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis confirmed hirudin expression. The recombinant protein was expressed with a yield of 6.68 mg/L culture. Mass spectrometry analysis further confirmed target protein expression. The concentration and antithrombin activity of purified hirudin were 1.67 mg/mL and 14,000 ATU/mL, respectively. These findings provide a basis for further elucidating the molecular anticoagulation mechanism of hirudin, and address China’s growing market demand for engineered H. nipponia-derived hirudin and hirudin-based drugs.
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4
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Programmable DARPin-based receptors for the detection of thrombotic markers. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:1125-1134. [PMID: 35941237 PMCID: PMC9512699 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01095-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cellular therapies remain constrained by the limited availability of sensors for disease markers. Here we present an integrated target-to-receptor pipeline for constructing a customizable advanced modular bispecific extracellular receptor (AMBER) that combines our generalized extracellular molecule sensor (GEMS) system with a high-throughput platform for generating designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins). For proof of concept, we chose human fibrin degradation products (FDPs) as markers with high clinical relevance and screened a DARPin library for FDP binders. We built AMBERs equipped with 19 different DARPins selected from 160 hits, and found 4 of them to be functional as heterodimers with a known single-chain variable fragments binder. Tandem receptors consisting of combinations of the validated DARPins are also functional. We demonstrate applications of these AMBER receptors in vitro and in vivo by constructing designer cell lines that detect pathological concentrations of FDPs and respond with the production of a reporter and a therapeutic anti-thrombotic protein. ![]()
Merging the generalized extracellular molecule sensor (GEMS) system with screening designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) identifies an advanced modular bispecific extracellular receptor (AMBER) for detection of fibrinogen degradation products.
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Men Z, Lu X, He T, Wu M, Su T, Shen T. Microneedle patch-assisted transdermal administration of recombinant hirudin for the treatment of thrombotic diseases. Int J Pharm 2022; 612:121332. [PMID: 34902453 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The painless microneedle patch (MNP), widely explored for transdermal drug delivery of macromolecules, can overcome the limitations of traditional administrations of protein and polypeptide anticoagulant drugs. We constructed a recombinant hirudin-loaded microneedle patch, suitable for patients with thrombotic diseases requiring long-term preventive medication. The recombinant hirudin-loaded dissoluble microneedle patch (RHDMNP) was created using a mold casting technique and polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol were used as the matrix material with a 1:1.2 ratio. We prepared bilayer RHDMNPs with pyramidal appearance and 0.37 N/needle strength. The intradermal dissolution height of the microneedle reached approximately 78.67% of the total height, and 68.12% of the drug was delivered into the skin. The 12-hour cumulative permeation of the MNP was 21.69 ± 3.90 μg/cm2. The MNP showed a Tmax of 1.5 h, Cmax of 144 ± 71 ng/mL, and area under curve (AUC) of 495 ± 66 ng/mL·min compared to Tmax of 0.5 h, Cmax of 249 ± 89 ng/mL, and AUC of 944 ± 65 ng/mL·min for the subcutaneous injection group. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the RHDMNP exerted effective anticoagulant effects, prevented the incidence of acute pulmonary embolism, and revealed the potential for venous thrombosis prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zening Men
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaotong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting He
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengfang Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tong Su
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Teng Shen
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Detection of Antibodies against Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Zoo Animals Using Non-Invasive Blood Sampling with Medicinal Leeches ( Hirudo medicinalis). Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10080952. [PMID: 34451416 PMCID: PMC8398406 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reports on non-invasive blood sampling are limited, and there are only a few studies on using kissing bugs (Reduviidae) and medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) for hematology and biochemistry testing in various zoo animal species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of non-invasive blood sampling with medicinal leeches for arbovirus epidemiological investigations in various animal species from one zoo collection. Medicinal leeches were manually applied on 35 animals of 11 species. Control blood samples were obtained by venipuncture of the jugular vein. Antibodies to tick-borne encephalitic virus (TBEV) were detected by using the immunoenzymatic method or an immunofluorescent assay (IFAT), depending on the animal species. One of the 35 animals (2.9%) was seropositive (Ovis aries), whereas the rest of the samples were seronegative in both methods of sampling (non-invasive by leeches vs. invasive by venipuncture). Blood sampling using medicinal leeches showed promising results. It is likely a good alternative to other more complex and invasive methods, and it can provide significant advancement in blood sampling for preventive medicine and epidemiological studies in zoo animals.
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7
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Kovach IM. Proton Bridging in Catalysis by and Inhibition of Serine Proteases of the Blood Cascade System. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:396. [PMID: 33925363 PMCID: PMC8146069 DOI: 10.3390/life11050396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Inquiries into the participation of short hydrogen bonds in stabilizing transition states and intermediate states in the thrombin, factor Xa, plasmin and activated protein C-catalyzed reactions revealed that specific binding of effectors at Sn, n = 1-4 and S'n, n = 1-3 and at remote exosites elicit complex patterns of hydrogen bonding and involve water networks. The methods employed that yielded these discoveries include; (1) kinetics, especially partial or full kinetic deuterium solvent isotope effects with short cognate substrates and also with the natural substrates, (2) kinetic and structural probes, particularly low-field high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), of mechanism-based inhibitors and substrate-mimic peptide inhibitors. Short hydrogen bonds form at the transition states of the catalytic reactions at the active site of the enzymes as they do with mechanism-based covalent inhibitors of thrombin. The emergence of short hydrogen bonds at the binding interface of effectors and thrombin at remote exosites has recently gained recognition. Herein, I describe our contribution, a confirmation of this discovery, by low-field 1H NMR. The principal conclusion of this review is that proton sharing at distances below the sum of van der Waals radii of the hydrogen and both donor and acceptor atoms contribute to the remarkable catalytic prowess of serine proteases of the blood clotting system and other enzymes that employ acid-base catalysis. Proton bridges also play a role in tight binding in proteins and at exosites, i.e., allosteric sites, of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildiko M Kovach
- Department of Chemistry, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
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8
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Wüstenhagen DA, Lukas P, Müller C, Aubele SA, Hildebrandt JP, Kubick S. Cell-free synthesis of the hirudin variant 1 of the blood-sucking leech Hirudo medicinalis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19818. [PMID: 33188246 PMCID: PMC7666225 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76715-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthesis and purification of peptide drugs for medical applications is a challenging task. The leech-derived factor hirudin is in clinical use as an alternative to heparin in anticoagulatory therapies. So far, recombinant hirudin is mainly produced in bacterial or yeast expression systems. We describe the successful development and application of an alternative protocol for the synthesis of active hirudin based on a cell-free protein synthesis approach. Three different cell lysates were compared, and the effects of two different signal peptide sequences on the synthesis of mature hirudin were determined. The combination of K562 cell lysates and the endogenous wild-type signal peptide sequence was most effective. Cell-free synthesized hirudin showed a considerably higher anti-thrombin activity compared to recombinant hirudin produced in bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doreen A Wüstenhagen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Potsdam-Golm (IZI-BB), 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Phil Lukas
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christian Müller
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Simone A Aubele
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Potsdam-Golm (IZI-BB), 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jan-Peter Hildebrandt
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Potsdam-Golm (IZI-BB), 14476, Potsdam, Germany. .,Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg, The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, 16816, Neuruppin, Germany.
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9
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Phillips AJ, Govedich FR, Moser WE. Leeches in the extreme: Morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations to inhospitable habitats. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020; 12:318-325. [PMID: 33101909 PMCID: PMC7569739 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With more than 700 described species, leeches include morphological, physiological, and behavioral diversity and occur in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems. Leeches inhabit a number of extreme environments, including extremes in temperature, moisture, salinity, pressure, light, and pollution. In some cases, leeches in extreme environments have specialized morphological, physiological, or behavioral adaptations to survive these conditions, yet unique adaptations are not apparent in some species. Leeches that inhabit inhospitable habitats occur in more than one branch or family of leech phylogeny suggesting that there have been independent invasions of environments with extreme conditions. Herein, we review examples of leeches that live in extreme conditions and the exceptional biology that has contributed to leeches being the most extreme annelids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Phillips
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Fredric R. Govedich
- Biology Department, Southern Utah University, 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT, 84720, USA
| | - William E. Moser
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center–MRC 534, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD, 20746, USA
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Zhang J, Lan N. Hirudin variants production by genetic engineered microbial factory. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2018; 34:261-280. [PMID: 30095033 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2018.1506898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hirudin was discovered as an active anticoagulant in leech extracts almost 60 years ago. Since their initial discovery, hirudin and its variants have been produced with various anti-thrombotic, cancer cell inhibition, diabetic cataract treatment and anti-fatigue activities. Some hirudin variants have been approved for clinical use and released into the marketplace. Recent progress has seen made in relation to hirudin variants expressed in several well-established microbial hosts, including Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris and others, with high levels of activity and yield. This review summarizes the current progress on hirudin production using microbial producers, and considers the outlook for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Zhang
- a Institute of Food Science and Engineering, School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering , University of Shanghai for Science and Technology , Shanghai , China
| | - Nana Lan
- a Institute of Food Science and Engineering, School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering , University of Shanghai for Science and Technology , Shanghai , China
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Watson EE, Liu X, Thompson RE, Ripoll-Rozada J, Wu M, Alwis I, Gori A, Loh CT, Parker BL, Otting G, Jackson S, Pereira PJ, Payne RJ. Mosquito-Derived Anophelin Sulfoproteins Are Potent Antithrombotics. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2018; 4:468-476. [PMID: 29721529 PMCID: PMC5920608 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.7b00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The anophelins are small protein thrombin inhibitors that are produced in the salivary glands of the Anopheles mosquito to fulfill a vital role in blood feeding. A bioinformatic analysis of anophelin sequences revealed the presence of conserved tyrosine residues in an acidic environment that were predicted to be post-translationally sulfated in vivo. To test this prediction, insect cell expression of two anophelin proteins, from Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles gambiae, was performed, followed by analysis by mass spectrometry, which showed heterogeneous sulfation at the predicted sites. Homogeneously sulfated variants of the two proteins were subsequently generated by chemical synthesis via a one-pot ligation-desulfurization strategy. Tyrosine sulfation of the anophelins was shown to significantly enhance the thrombin inhibitory activity, with a doubly sulfated variant of the anophelin from A. albimanus exhibiting a 100-fold increase in potency compared with the unmodified homologue. Sulfated anophelins were also shown to exhibit potent in vivo anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E. Watson
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Xuyu Liu
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Robert E. Thompson
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Jorge Ripoll-Rozada
- IBMC
− Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do
Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto
de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mike Wu
- Heart
Research Institute, Newtown, New South Wales 2042, Australia
- Charles
Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Imala Alwis
- Heart
Research Institute, Newtown, New South Wales 2042, Australia
- Charles
Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Alessandro Gori
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Choy-Theng Loh
- Research
School of Chemistry, Australian National
University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Benjamin L. Parker
- Charles
Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Gottfried Otting
- Research
School of Chemistry, Australian National
University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Shaun Jackson
- Heart
Research Institute, Newtown, New South Wales 2042, Australia
- Charles
Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Department
of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Pedro José
Barbosa Pereira
- IBMC
− Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do
Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto
de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Richard J. Payne
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Cabric S, Elgue G, Nilsson B, Korsgren O, Schmidt P. Adenovirus-Mediated Expression of the Anticoagulant Hirudin in Human Islets: A Tool to Make the Islets Biocompatible to Blood. Cell Transplant 2017; 15:759-67. [PMID: 17269446 DOI: 10.3727/000000006783464390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human islets induce an injurious clotting reaction at the time of transplantation. A potential strategy to counteract this reaction would be to allow the islets to express hirudin, a protein with direct anticoagulative activity. Human islets were transduced with an adenoviral vector encoding hirudin, an empty corresponding vector, or left untreated. Islet culture supernatants were analyzed for hirudin using an ELISA, a chromogenic substrate assay based on the thrombin-binding properties of hirudin and in a whole blood viscosimetry assay. Immunohistochemical evaluation and determination of hirudin content revealed an abundant expression of hirudin after transduction. Hirudin content in transduced islets was in the range of the insulin content levels. A delay in human whole blood clotting time could be observed after addition of supernatants taken from islet cultures expressing hirudin. However, transduced islets showed an impaired glucose-stimulated insulin release, but could readily be retrieved 6 weeks after transplantation to athymic mice. A marked expression and secretion of hirudin with functional capacity can be induced in human islets using an adenoviral vector. The impairment in glucose-stimulated insulin release in hirudin-secreting islets, compared to controls, indicates that the additional protein synthesis affects the functional capacity of the islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Cabric
- Division of Clinical Immunology, The Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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13
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Tian Q, Zhang P, Gao Z, Li H, Bai Z, Tan S. Hirudin as a novel fusion tag for efficient production of lunasin in Escherichia coli. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2017; 47:619-626. [PMID: 28151045 DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2017.1286600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Fusion expression provides an effective means for the biosynthesis of longer peptides in Escherichia coli. However, the commonly used fusion tags are primarily suitable for laboratory scale applications due to the high cost of commercial affinity resins. Herein, a novel approach exploiting hirudin as a multipurpose fusion tag in combination with tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage has been developed for the efficient and cost-effective production of a 43-amino acid model peptide lunasin in E. coli at preparative scale. A fusion gene which allows for lunasin to be N-terminally fused to the C-terminus of hirudin through a flexible linker comprising a TEV protease cleavage site was designed and cloned in a secretion vector pTASH. By cultivation in a 7-L bioreactor, the fusion protein was excreted into the culture medium at a high yield of ~380 mg/L, which was conveniently recovered and purified by inexpensive HP20 hydrophobic chromatography at a recovery rate of ~80%. After polishing and cleavage with TEV protease, the finally purified lunasin was obtained with ≥95% purity and yield of ~86 mg/L culture medium. Conclusively, this hirudin tagging strategy is powerful in the production of lunasin and could be applicable for the production of other peptides at preparative scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Tian
- a Department of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology , China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing , P.R. China
| | - Ping Zhang
- a Department of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology , China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing , P.R. China
| | - Zhan Gao
- a Department of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology , China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing , P.R. China
| | - Hengli Li
- a Department of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology , China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing , P.R. China
| | - Zhengli Bai
- a Department of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology , China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing , P.R. China
| | - Shuhua Tan
- a Department of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology , China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing , P.R. China
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14
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Xin X, Liu W, Sun L. Improving the bioactivity of rHirudin with boronophenylalanine site-specific modification. Mol Med Rep 2015; 11:3774-9. [PMID: 25585615 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.3194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
To improve the bioactivity of recombinant (r)Hirudin, the orthogonal pair MjBTyrRS/tRNATyr cua (made up of the boronophenylalanine, tRNA and tRNA synthetase), was selected to incorporate boronophenylalanine site‑specifically into rHirudin at the 63 sites in an Escherichia coli system in response to the TAG codon. Following fusion with the gIII signal peptide and a hexahistidine tag, the modified protein was secreted into Luria‑Bertani culture medium and purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography following a gel filtration column. In a 200 ml flask, the yield of boronophenylalanine‑modified hirudin was 10 mg l‑1 and that of rHirudin was 19 mg l‑1. The authenticity of the purified proteins was verified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy and antithrombin activity assays. The results revealed that the antithrombin activity of the boronophenylalanine‑modified hirudin to human thrombin was more enhanced than that of rHirudin. The modified hirudin demonstrated stronger proliferation inhibiting ability on fibroblast L929 cells compared with that of rHirudin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
| | - Wenshe Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, USA
| | - Liyun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
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15
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Gong X, Zhang Q, Tan S. Inhibitory effect of r-hirudin variant III on streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataracts in rats. ScientificWorldJournal 2013; 2013:630651. [PMID: 24391466 PMCID: PMC3874310 DOI: 10.1155/2013/630651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The in vivo inhibitory effect of r-hirudin variant III (rHV3) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cataracts in rats was investigated. SD-rats were firstly made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of 2% (W/V) STZ (65 mg/kg). Two weeks later, cataract formation was examined by slit lamp microscope, and the cataracted animals were randomly grouped. The animals in the treated groups received rHV3 drops administration to the eyes with various doses. After 4 weeks treatment, the animals were sacrificed to evaluate the biochemical changes of aldose reductase (AR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the eye lens. Meanwhile, the cataract progression was monitored by slit lamp microscope. As a result, rHV3 drops treatment significantly increased the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in the lens in a dose-dependent manner, whereas AR activity and MDA level in the lens were dramatically decreased. Also, the morphological observation further confirmed the inhibition of the development of STZ-induced diabetic cataracts by the rHV3 drops treatment. Thus, our data suggest that rHV3 drops are pharmacologically effective for the protection against STZ-induced diabetic cataracts in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojian Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qiuyan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Shuhua Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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16
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Kovach IM, Kakalis L, Jordan F, Zhang D. Proton bridging in the interactions of thrombin with hirudin and its mimics. Biochemistry 2013; 52:2472-81. [PMID: 23517305 DOI: 10.1021/bi301625a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Thrombin is the pivotal serine protease enzyme in the blood cascade system and thus a target of drug design for control of its activity. The most efficient nonphysiologic inhibitor of thrombin is hirudin, a naturally occurring small protein. Hirudin and its synthetic mimics employ a range of hydrogen bonding, salt bridging, and hydrophobic interactions with thrombin to achieve tight binding with K(i) values in the nano- to femtomolar range. The one-dimensional (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum recorded at 600 MHz reveals a resonance 15.33 ppm downfield from silanes in complexes between human α-thrombin and r-hirudin in pH 5.6-8.8 buffers and between 5 and 35 °C. There is also a resonance between 15.17 and 15.54 ppm seen in complexes of human α-thrombin with hirunorm IV, hirunorm V, an Nα(Me)Arg peptide, RGD-hirudin, and Nα-2-naphthylsulfonyl-glycyl-DL-4-amidinophenylalanyl-piperidide acetate salt (NAPAP), while there is no such low-field resonance observed in a complex of porcine trypsin and NAPAP. The chemical shifts suggest that these resonances represent H-bonded environments. H-Donor-acceptor distances in the corresponding H-bonds are estimated to be <2.7 Å. Addition of Phe-Pro-Arg-chloromethylketone (PPACK) to a complex of human α-thrombin with r-hirudin results in an additional signal at 18.03 ppm, which is 0.10 ppm upfield from the observed signal [Kovach, I. M., et al. (2009) Biochemistry 48, 7296-7304] for thrombin covalently modified with PPACK. In contrast, the peak at 15.33 ppm remains unchanged. The fractionation factors for the thrombin-hirudin complexes are near 1.0 within 20% error. The most likely site of the short H-bond in complexes of thrombin with the hirudin family of inhibitors is in the hydrophobic patch of the C-terminus of hirudin where Glu(57') and Glu(58') are embedded and interact with Arg(75) and Arg(77) and their solvate water (on thrombin). Glu(57') and Glu(58') present in the hirudin family of inhibitors make up a key binding epitope of fibrinogen, thrombin's prime substrate, which lends substantial interest to the short hydrogen bond as a binding element at the fibrinogen recognition site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildiko M Kovach
- Department of Chemistry, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
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17
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Robust preparative-scale extracellular production of hirudin in Escherichia coli and its purification and characterization. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 39:1487-94. [PMID: 22847924 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-012-1156-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Hirudin variant III (HV3) is potentially useful in the prevention and treatment of cataracts. To prepare sufficient amounts of rHV3 for further preclinical studies, we developed an effective process for robust preparative-scale extracellular production of rHV3 in Escherichia coli. In a 7-l bioreactor, under the optimal fed-batch fermentation conditions, rHV3 was excreted into the culture supernatant and yielded up to 915 mg l(-1). Then, a four-step purification procedure was applied to the product, which included ultrafiltration, hydrophobic chromatography, anion-exchange chromatography, and preparative reversed-phase fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The overall maximum recovery attained was 56 %, the purity reached at least 99 % as evaluated by HPLC analysis, the molecular weight was determined to be 7,011.10 Da by matrix-assisted laser-desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis, and the pI was 4.46 as analyzed by isoelectric focusing. The N- and C-terminal sequence analysis confirmed the product homogeneity. The final product contained at most 10 pg of residual DNA per dose (0.2 mg) of rHV3 by high-sensitivity hybridization assay and at most 3 EU endotoxin protein/mg by limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Taken together, the rHV3 produced in multigram quantities in E. coli by this bioprocess meets the regulatory criteria for biopharmaceuticals and can be used as a drug candidate for preclinical studies.
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18
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Lu W, Cai X, Gu Z, Huang Y, Xia B, Cao P. Production and Characterization of Hirudin Variant-1 by SUMO Fusion Technology in E. coli. Mol Biotechnol 2012; 53:41-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s12033-012-9511-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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19
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Lv J, Huang C, Zhang X, Tan S. Extracellular secretion of anticoagulant peptide hirudin in Lactococcus lactis using SP310mut2 signal peptide. Biotechnol Lett 2011; 34:61-5. [PMID: 21901343 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-011-0740-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2011] [Accepted: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hirudin can be used as an oral anticoagulant and antithrombotic agent. The hirudin variant III gene, derived from the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, was fused to SP310mut2 signal sequence and expressed by a nisin-controlled gene expression system in Lactococcus lactis which was then grown in a 7 l fermenter. After induction with 8 ng nisin ml(-1), the product was secreted into the culture medium and accumulated up to ~2.7 mg l(-1). MALDI-TOF/MS and anticoagulant activity analyses on the purified product confirmed its authenticity. This is the first demonstration that hirudin can be extracellularly secreted and correctly processed in L. lactis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 211# mailbox, 24 Tongjia Street, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Demain AL, Vaishnav P. Production of recombinant proteins by microbes and higher organisms. Biotechnol Adv 2009; 27:297-306. [PMID: 19500547 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2009.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 584] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2008] [Revised: 01/14/2009] [Accepted: 01/21/2009] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Large proteins are usually expressed in a eukaryotic system while smaller ones are expressed in prokaryotic systems. For proteins that require glycosylation, mammalian cells, fungi or the baculovirus system is chosen. The least expensive, easiest and quickest expression of proteins can be carried out in Escherichia coli. However, this bacterium cannot express very large proteins. Also, for S-S rich proteins, and proteins that require post-translational modifications, E. coli is not the system of choice. The two most utilized yeasts are Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris. Yeasts can produce high yields of proteins at low cost, proteins larger than 50 kD can be produced, signal sequences can be removed, and glycosylation can be carried out. The baculoviral system can carry out more complex post-translational modifications of proteins. The most popular system for producing recombinant mammalian glycosylated proteins is that of mammalian cells. Genetically modified animals secrete recombinant proteins in their milk, blood or urine. Similarly, transgenic plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and others can generate many recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold L Demain
- Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti, Drew University, Madison, NJ 07940, USA
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21
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Yen CH, Yang CK, Chen IC, Lin YS, Lin CS, Chu S, Tu CF. Expression of recombinant Hirudin in transgenic mice milk driven by the goat β-casein promoter. Biotechnol J 2008; 3:1067-77. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.200800069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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22
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Abstract
Life on earth is not possible without microorganisms. Microbes have contributed to industrial science for over 100 years. They have given us diversity in enzymatic content and metabolic pathways. The advent of recombinant DNA brought many changes to industrial microbiology. New expression systems have been developed, biosynthetic pathways have been modified by metabolic engineering to give new metabolites, and directed evolution has provided enzymes with modified selectability, improved catalytic activity and stability. More and more genomes of industrial microorganisms are being sequenced giving valuable information about the genetic and enzymatic makeup of these valuable forms of life. Major tools such as functional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are being exploited for the discovery of new valuable small molecules for medicine and enzymes for catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold L Demain
- Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti (R.I.S.E.), Drew University, Madison, NJ 07940, USA.
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23
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Liu CC, Brustad E, Liu W, Schultz PG. Crystal structure of a biosynthetic sulfo-hirudin complexed to thrombin. J Am Chem Soc 2007; 129:10648-9. [PMID: 17685615 PMCID: PMC2530905 DOI: 10.1021/ja0735002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chang C Liu
- Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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Abstract
Hirudin variant 1 (HV1), a small protein consisting of 65 amino acids and three disulfide bonds, was synthesized by using Fmoc-based convergent methods on 2-chlorotrityl resin (CLTR). The linear sequence was assembled by the sequential condensation of 7 protected fragments, on the resin-bound 55-65 fragment. The conditions of fragment assembly were carefully studied to determine the most efficient synthetic protocol. Crude reduced [Cys(16, 28)(Acm)]-HV1 thus obtained was easily purified to homogeneity by RP-HPLC. Disulfide bridges were successfully formed by a two-step procedure, involving an oxidative folding step to form Cys(6)-Cys(14) and Cys(22)-Cys(39) linkages, followed by iodine oxidation to form the Cys(16)-Cys(28) bond. The correct disulfide bond alignment was established by peptide mapping using Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease at pH 4.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyros Goulas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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25
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Liu X, Yan X, Mo W, Song H, Dai L. 1H NMR assignment and secondary structure of recombinant RGD-hirudin. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY : MRC 2005; 43:956-61. [PMID: 16103990 DOI: 10.1002/mrc.1651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The conformation of a new recombinant RGD-hirudin, which has the activities of anti-thrombin and anti-platelet aggregation, was investigated by multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The 1H NMR spectra of this protein are assigned in a sequential manner by using a combination of 2D NMR techniques to demonstrate through-bond and through-space (<5 A) connectivities. The secondary structure of recombinant RGD-hirudin was deduced from chemical shift indices, sequential NOEs and 3J(HNalpha) coupling constants. The results show that the recombinant RGD-hirudin has two anti-parallel beta-sheets and no alpha-helix, and also that the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) binding motif of this protein is located at the end of a long arm, which consists of two anti-parallel beta-strands (residues 26-31 and 36-41). As the strands are connected by a beta-turn, the recombinant RGD-hirudin acquires high flexibility and inhibits platelet aggregation more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingang Liu
- Center of Analysis and Measurement, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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26
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Trontelj P, Utevsky SY. Celebrity with a neglected taxonomy: molecular systematics of the medicinal leech (genus Hirudo). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2005; 34:616-24. [PMID: 15683933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2004] [Revised: 09/29/2004] [Accepted: 10/18/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The medicinal leech is the most famous representative of the Hirudinea. It is one of few invertebrates widely used in medicine and as a scientific model object. It has recently been given considerable conservation effort. Despite all attention there is confusion regarding the taxonomic status of different morphological forms, with many different species described in the past, but only two generally accepted at present. The results of the phylogenetic analysis of a nuclear (ITS2+5.8S rRNA) and two mitochondrial gene sequences (12S rRNA, COI) suggest that the genus Hirudo is monophyletic. It consists, apart form the type Hirudo medicinalis and the East Asian Hirudo nipponia, of three other, neglected species. All of them have already been described either as species or morphological variety, and can readily be identified by their coloration pattern. The type species is in weakly supported sister relation with Hirudo sp. n. (described as variety orientalis) from Transcaucasia and Iran. Sister to them stands Hirudo verbana from southeastern Europe and Turkey, which is nowadays predominantly bred in leech farms and used as 'medicinal leech.' The North African Hirudo troctina is the sister taxon to this group of Western Eurasian species, whereas the basal split is between H. nipponia and the Western Palaearctic clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Trontelj
- Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, PO box 2995, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Trontelj P, Sotler M, Verovnik R. Genetic differentiation between two species of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis and the neglected H. verbana, based on random-amplified polymorphic DNA. Parasitol Res 2005; 94:118-24. [PMID: 15322921 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-004-1181-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The medicinal leech is one of the few parasitic invertebrates widely used in medicine and as a scientific model object. Because of a dramatic decline in its natural populations, it is subject to considerable conservation effort. Despite all attention, there is confusion regarding the taxonomic status of different morphological forms. The prevailing view is that all varieties of medicinal leech in Europe represent the same species, Hirudo medicinalis. However, the present study based on RAPD molecular markers demonstrates that a second European taxon, H. verbana, forms a distinct species. Phenetic clustering and principal coordinate analysis of eight populations revealed the same basic structure, reflecting taxonomic rather than geographic subdivision. Variation between species explained 60% of the total molecular variance (phiCT=0.60, P<0.001). Both taxa displayed a significant number of specific RAPD markers. Conversely, no specific fragment supporting the geographic association of both taxa was found. Since the stronghold of commercially exploited medicinal leech populations in southeastern Europe and Turkey belongs to H. verbana, most medicinal and scientific applications probably use this species, not H. medicinalis. Appropriate taxonomic correction of international conservation conventions and legislation is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Trontelj
- Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Production of recombinant hirudin in galactokinase-deficientSaccharomyces cerevisiae by fed-batch fermentation with continuous glucose feeding. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2003. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02935894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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