title: Primary structure and function of novel O-glycosylated hirudins from the leech Hirudinaria manillensis.
abstract: Hirudin from the leech Hirudo medicinalis is a most powerful anticoagulant, and many isoforms have been described. In the present work, the primary structure of two hirudins from the leech Hirudinaria manillensis has been elucidated. The antithrombotic activity is similar to that of H. medicinalis hirudins although the sequence identity is below 60%. Surprisingly, the hirudins were found to be glycosylated at one site. Sugar analysis after methanolysis yielded fucose, galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine. These results combined with data from matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, plasma desorption mass spectrometry, capillary zone electrophoresis, and lectin-binding tests indicate that the sequence is Fuc-Gal beta 1-3GalNAc-(O-threonine). This structure shows an interesting similarity to human blood group H determinants.
authors.affiliation: Ciba-Geigy Ltd., CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Börnsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gassmann
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raschdorf
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schlaeppi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maschler
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D006031:Glycosylation; D006629:Hirudins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007865:Leeches / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D006629:Hirudins; D013917:Thrombin