Destabilase from the medicinal leech is a representative of a novel family of lysozymes
Basic science published in Biochim Biophys Acta (2000)
Abstract
Intrinsic lysozyme-like activity was demonstrated for destabilase from the medicinal leech supported by (1) high specific lysozyme activity of the highly purified destabilase, (2) specific inhibition of the lysozyme-like activity by anti-destabilase antibodies, and (3) appreciable lysozyme-like activity in insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses carrying cDNAs encoding different isoforms of destabilase. Several isoforms of destabilase constitute a protein family at least two members of which are characterized by lysozyme activity. The corresponding gene family implies an ancient evolutionary history of the genes although the function(s) of various lysozymes in the leech remains unclear. Differences in primary structures of the destabilase family members and members of known lysozyme families allow one to assign the former to a new family of lysozymes. New proteins homologous to destabilase were recently described for Caenorhabditis elegans and bivalve mollusks suggesting that the new lysozyme family can be widely distributed among invertebrates. It remains to be investigated whether the two enzymatic activities (isopeptidase and lysozyme-like) are attributes of one and the same protein.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Highly purified destabilase shows specific lysozyme activity confirmed by anti-destabilase antibodies and baculovirus-recombinant isoforms; destabilase family assigned to a new lysozyme family widely distributed in invertebrates.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio demostró que la desestabilasa, una proteína de la sanguijuela medicinal, posee actividad intrínseca de tipo lisozima, confirmada mediante ensayos con enzima purificada, inhibición por anticuerpos y expresión recombinante de isoformas de desestabilasa en células de insecto. Múltiples isoformas de desestabilasa constituyen una nueva familia de lisozimas distinta de las familias conocidas, con homólogos identificados en Caenorhabditis elegans y moluscos bivalvos. El estudio caracteriza una proteína derivada de la sanguijuela con actividad enzimática de interés potencial para el ámbito de ASH. Sin embargo, el trabajo es puramente bioquímico y molecular, no involucra hirudoterapia ni aplicación clínica, y la función biológica de estas lisozimas en la sanguijuela queda indeterminada según el resumen.
Citación
Destabilase from the medicinal leech is a representative of a novel family of lysozymes.
Zavalova LL et al. · Biochimica et biophysica acta, 2000
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026