Molecular cloning and functional analysis of HnSaratin from Hirudo nipponia
Basic science / preclinical published in Gene (2023)
Abstract
In order to finish a bloodmeal successfully, hematophagous organisms often stored a variety of anticoagulant proteins in their salivary glands, such as proteins that inhibit platelet aggregation. When they ingest a bloodmeal, these proteins are injected into the host to prevent the blood from clotting. As one of the origins of leeches used in traditional Chinese medicine, H. nipponia was proved to be clinically effective in treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This study cloned the sequence of HnSaratin cDNA derived from salivary glands of H. nipponia. The sequence contains an open reading frame of 387 bp, encoding a protein of 128 amino acids containing a signal peptide of 21 amino acids. After removal of the signal peptide, the molecular mass of mature HnSaratin was 12.37 kDa, with a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 3.89. The N-terminal of mature HnSaratin was folded into a globular structure, in which 3 disulfide bonds, a ββαβββ topology and 2 Glu residues that binds collagenous Lys2 were located, and the C-terminal formed a flexible region. The fusion HnSaratin protein was obtained by a prokaryotic expression system. The protein showed anti-platelet aggregation activity, and was observed to prevent blood clotting in rats. The significant high expression of HnSaratin mRNA in salivary glands was induced by bloodmeal ingestion of H. nipponia. Briefly, our work provides theoretical basis for further development and utilization of H. nipponia.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Cloning of HnSaratin from Hirudo nipponia salivary glands — 128-aa mature protein of 12.37 kDa with 3 disulfide bonds and the beta-beta-alpha topology of saratins. Recombinant protein inhibits platelet aggregation and prevents blood clotting in rats; expression induced by blood meal.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio clonó el ADNc de HnSaratina a partir de las glándulas salivales de Hirudo nipponia y produjo una proteína de fusión recombinante mediante un sistema de expresión procariota. La proteína madura (12,37 kDa) contiene un dominio globular N-terminal con tres enlaces disulfuro y dos residuos de Glu que se unen al Lys2 colagenoso, y la proteína recombinante demostró actividad antiagregante plaquetaria y previno la coagulación sanguínea en ratas; la expresión de ARNm en las glándulas salivales se reguló al alza de forma significativa tras la ingestión de sangre. Esto es relevante para el secretoma de la sanguijuela, ya que la HnSaratina es una proteína anticoagulante de origen salival de una especie de sanguijuela medicinal. Sin embargo, la evidencia se limita a la bioactividad de la proteína recombinante y a un modelo en rata, sin datos de dosificación, seguridad ni traslación clínica.
Citación
Molecular cloning and functional analysis of HnSaratin from Hirudo nipponia.
Cheng B et al. · Gene, 2023
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026