Sociedad Americana de Hirudoterapia

WA3-1

Eleven-residue anticoagulant + thrombolytic peptide from Whitmania pigra alcalase hydrolysate — Ren 2016 documents activity in aPTT, PT, and TT assays with thrombolytic effect.

Preclínico / mecanísticoLast updated: 2026-05-27 · Reviewed by ASH Editorial Board
Molecular weight of WA3-1 compared with other characterized leech-derived compoundsHementerin80 kDaHementin80 kDaHementin-Like Protein (HLP-1)80 kDaLeech Collagenase70 kDaHaemadipsa yanyuanensis Progr…70 kDaLeech Apyrase67 kDaCalin65 kDaHyaluronidase60 kDaAntithrombin III binding prot…58 kDaCollagenolytic Fibrinolysin55 kDaLeech Thrombospondin-Like Pro…50 kDaWA3-11.4 kDa
Molecular weight (kilodaltons) of WA3-1 (highlighted) alongside other characterized leech salivary compounds. Smaller proteins/peptides generally diffuse and act faster.

Mechanistic Evidence Box

Preclinical / mechanistic
Page type
Compound profile
Evidence type
Eleven-residue anticoagulant + thrombolytic peptide from Whitmania pigra alcalase hydrolysate — Ren 2016 documents activity in aPTT, PT, and TT assays with thrombolytic effect.
Evidence level
In vitro
Drug vs leech
Purified natural compound
Safety domains
Bleeding

Clinical translation limit

WA3-1's in vitro anticoagulant + thrombolytic dual activity does NOT establish clinical efficacy. No FDA-approved derivative exists; W. pigra is a non-hematophagous TCM leech, not the FDA-cleared K040187 medicinal leech.

Molecular Profile

Category
Anticoagulant
Evidence tier
Preclinical
Molecular weight
1,422 Da
Source species
Whitmania pigra
Discovered
2016 · Ren Y et al.
WA3-1 molecular structure

Biological Targets

  • aPTT-PT-TT triple-pathway prolongation
  • thrombolytic activity

Key Citations

  1. Ren Y et al. (2016), Amino Acids · PMID 27487778

External Resources

    Related Anticoagulant Compounds

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