Destabilase complexes - natural liposome produced by medicinal leeches Hirudo medicinalis

Electrophoretic analysis of destabilase preparation demonstrates the presence of protein combinations with MW 12.3, 25 and 50 kD. Fraction (MW 12.3 D) is a monomer of destabilase aggregation having properties of micellar proteins and represents a stable lipid-protein complex, where the role of lipid component is played by the stable analogue of prostacyclin (MW 391 D). The synthesis of a low molecular fraction of destabilase is fulfilled with bacteria--symbiont of leeches Aeromonas hydrophila. When the destabilase (MW 12.3 kD) contacts with blood a process of complexe formation is triggered with hirudin and blood plasma kallikrein inhibitor, forming a stable 'destabilase complex' (DC; MW 25 kD), possessing also a high aggregation capacity. Polymer forms of the destabilase complex form a liposome changing its spatial orientation depending on the nature of the solvent. Such structural organization provides a high stability of DC components and a rapid penetration through cellular membranes (transmembrane transfer) and it also provides prophylactic antithrombotic action in the case of peroral application to animals, due to the blockade of vascular platelets (inhibition of platelet aggregation by prostacyclin analogue) and plasmic (inhibition of thrombin activity and blood plasma kallikrein) links of the hemostasis process. Destabilase fraction with MW 50 kD is a dimer of the destabilase complex. As a result of DC destruction (liposome), hirudin, prostacycline analogue and blood plasma kallikrein inhibitor are released.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Characterization of destabilase as a natural lipid-protein liposomal complex (12.3, 25, 50 kDa forms) bound to a stable prostacyclin analog, with the low-molecular-weight fraction produced by symbiont Aeromonas hydrophila.

Leech-derived molecules this paper discusses, each with a full profile in the ASH compound registry:

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