title: Transcripts involved in hemostasis: Exploring salivary complexes from Haementeria vizottoi leeches through transcriptomics, phylogenetic studies and structural features.
abstract: Throughout evolution, parasites have adapted in order to successfully intervene in the host defense, producing specific peptides and proteins. Interestingly, these peptides and proteins have been exploited as potential drug candidates against several diseases. Furthermore, biotechnology studies and cDNA libraries have remarkably contributed to identify potentially bioactive molecules. In this regard, herein, a cDNA library of salivary complexes from Haementeria vizottoi leeches was constructed, the transcriptome was characterized and a phylogenetic analysis was performed considering antistasin-like and antiplatelet-like proteins. Hundred twenty three transcripts were identified coding for putative proteins involved in animal feeding (representing about 10% of the expression level). These sequences showed similarities with myohemerythrins, carbonic anhydrases, anticoagulants, antimicrobials, proteases and protease inhibitors. The phylogenetic analysis, regarding antistasin-like and antiplatetlet-like proteins, revealed two main clades in the Rhynchobdellida leeches. As expected, the sequences from H. vizottoi have presented high similarities with those types of proteins. Thus, our findings could be helpful not only to identify new coagulation inhibitors, but also to better understand the biological composition of the salivary complexes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP: 05.503-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriane Michele Xavier Prado
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, CeTICS, Instituto Butantan, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ursula Castro
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP: 05.503-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP: 05.503-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kerly Fernanda Mesquita
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Pasqualoto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, CeTICS, Instituto Butantan, Brazil. Electronic address: inacio.azevedo@butantan.gov.br.
authors.forename: Inácio de L M
authors.initials: Ide L
authors.lastname: Junqueira-de-Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP: 05.503-900, São Paulo, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: ana.chudzinski@butantan.gov.br.
authors.forename: Ana Marisa
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chudzinski-Tavassi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019295:Computational Biology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015723:Gene Library; D006487:Hemostasis; D007865:Leeches / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010802:Phylogeny; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000737:chemistry*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Coagulation inhibitors; Leeches; Phylogenetic studies; Platelet inhibitors; Transcriptome