Enhanced production of anticoagulant hirudin in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae by chromosomal delta-integration

Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were developed to overproduce an anticoagulant hirudin. The delta-sequences of the yeast retrotransposon Ty1 and URA3 were used as target sites for a hirudin expression cassette. High copy-number transformants were successfully selected using a dominant selection antibiotic, G418. The copy numbers of the hirudin expression cassette integrated into delta-sequences of the yeast chromosome ranged from five to ten copies per cell. Production of hirudin in the delta-integrated recombinant S. cerevisiae system increased over two-fold compared with the YEp-based episomal hirudin expression system. A linear relationship between the copy number of the hirudin expression cassette and hirudin expression level was observed up to 10 copies. The hirudin expression cassettes integrated into the yeast chromosome were stably maintained in non-selective culture conditions.

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

Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with up to 10 copies of hirudin expression cassette integrated into delta-sequences; expression increased over two-fold compared to YEp-based episomal system.

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

Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой

More peer-reviewed studies in Фармакология секрета слюнных желёз.

• Novel Leech Antimicrobial Peptides — Hirunipins — Kumar et al. (2025)
• 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)
• [Medicinal leeches and hirudotherapy] — Gödekmerdan A et al. (2011)
• PEROXIDATION OF SALIVA LIPIDS IN PATIENTS WITH POSTCOVID SYNDROME DURING HIRUDOTHERAPY — Serikbayeva S et al. (2024)
• Medicinal leech therapy in pain syndromes: a narrative review — Koeppen D, Aurich M, Rampp T (2014)
• Leech therapy in the treatment of a penile haematoma in a stallion — Nowicki A, Jaworska J, Baranski W (2021)
• Leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) attenuates testicular damages induced by testicular ischemia/reperfusion in an animal model — Davoodi F et al. (2021)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →