Cysteine-Rich Anticoagulant (CRA)
Novel cysteine-rich recombinant anticoagulant from Hirudo medicinalis saliva — strong anticoagulant activity in clotting assays; C-terminal motif governs membrane affinity.
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Preclinical / mechanistic- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- Novel cysteine-rich recombinant anticoagulant from Hirudo medicinalis saliva — strong anticoagulant activity in clotting assays; C-terminal motif governs membrane affinity.
- Evidence level
- In vitro
- Drug vs leech
- Recombinant (genetically expressed)
- Safety domains
- Bleeding
Clinical translation limit
CRA's in vitro anticoagulant activity (3.7-5.5 mg/L recombinant yield, retained clotting-assay activity) does NOT establish clinical efficacy of any whole-leech or recombinant therapy. No FDA-approved CRA derivative exists; characterization remains at scale-up / purification stage.
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Anticoagulant
- Evidence tier
- Preclinical
- Molecular weight
- 12,000 Da
- Source species
- Hirudo medicinalis
- Discovered
- 2025 · Manuvera VA et al.
Biological Targets
- → coagulation cascade (TT / PT / aPTT prolongation; membrane-associated mechanism)
Key Citations
- Manuvera VA et al. (2025), Biomolecules · PMID 41463289
External Resources
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