The complete amino acid sequence of a hirudin variant from the leech Hirudinaria manillensis

Unlike the European leech Hirudo medicinalis, the Asian jawed leech Hirudinaria manillensis is specialized for feeding on mammalian blood. In the salivary glands of both these leeches, there is a potent inhibitor of thrombin, called hirudin, which acts as an anticoagulant. We have reported previously the isolation and purification of a variant of hirudin, called bufrudin, from the head portions of Hirudinaria. In the present study, the complete amino acid sequence of bufrudin was determined by automated Edman degradation of peptide fragments generated after cleavage of protein with trypsin or thermolysin. Comparison of the primary structure of bufrudin, with hirudin HV1, show about 70% sequence identity with deletion of two amino acids, but the key amino acids at the C-terminus, involved in the inhibition of thrombin, are conserved. However, similar sequence comparison of bufrudin with hirullin P18, a hirudin variant isolated from the same leech species but from whole leech, instead of heads, reveals even less sequence identity of about 60%. From the amino acid sequence, it is suggested that the conformation of the C-terminal portion of bufrudin may be significantly different from hirullin P18, but similar to hirudin HV1, upon its interaction with thrombin. These results indicate that, as with Hirudo leech, various isoforms of hirudin also exist in Hirudinaria leech, with a significant change occurring in the structure of the molecule during the evolution of leeches.

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

Complete amino acid sequence of bufrudin, a hirudin variant from Hirudinaria manillensis, shows 70% sequence identity with hirudin HV1 with conserved C-terminal thrombin-inhibitory residues.

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

Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica

More peer-reviewed studies in Genómica y proteómica.

• 434 Salivary Proteins — Integrated Proteomics of Hirudo medicinalis — Liu et al. (2019)
• Medicinal Leech Genome Assembly — Anticoagulant Gene Catalog — Kvist et al. (2020)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Efficacy and Safety of Hirudotherapy for Improving Sperm Quality Parameters in Male Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Abtahi-Forooshani M et al. (2026)
• Hirudotherapy in Wound Healing — Nair H et al. (2022)
• [Medicinal leeches and hirudotherapy] — Gödekmerdan A et al. (2011)
• [Cutaneous pseudolymphoma after hirudotherapy : Case report and review] — Hanner S et al. (2022)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Hirudotherapy (medicinal leeches) for treatment of upper airway obstruction in a dog — Trenholme H, Masseau I, Reinero C (2021)
• Leech therapy — Yantis M, O'Toole K, Ring P (2009)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →