Investigation of kinetic parameters in vitro of serine proteinases included in the blood coagulation cascade

During the last years the cases and death due to hemostatic violations exceed that of tumors. Enormous efforts have devoted to the prevention and treatment of some diseases such as arterial thrombosis. Antistasin, a 15 kDa anticoagulant protein isolated from salivary glands of the Mexican leech Haementeria officinalis, has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of Factor Xa in the blood coagulation cascade. Some short analogues which are hybrid structure between isoform 2 and 3 of antistasin and tripeptides inhibitors of serine proteinases were synthesized and reported in our previous work. Inhibitor constants, mechanism, and type of inhibition of some short analogues of antistasin are investigated. These analogs which show high anticoagulant activity in vitro in pure platelet human plasma.     

Amblyomma americanum salivary gland homolog of nSec1 is essential for saliva protein secretion

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor proteins assemble in tight core complexes which promote fusion of carrier vesicles with target compartments. Members of this class of proteins are expressed in all eukaryotic cells and distributed in distinct subcellular compartments. All vesicle transport mechanisms known to date have an essential requirement for a member of the Sec1 protein family, including the nSec1 in regulated exocytosis. A homolog of nSec1 was cloned and sequenced from the salivary glands of partially fed female ticks. Double-stranded RNA was used to specifically reduce the amount of nSec1 mRNA and protein in female adult tick salivary glands. This reduction was accompanied by a decrease in anticoagulant protein release by the glands and by abnormalities in feeding by dsRNA treated ticks. We report the efficacy of double-stranded RNA-mediated interference in "knocking down" nSec1 both in vivo and in vitro in tick salivary glands and the applicability of this technique for studying the mechanism of exocytosis in tick salivary glands.     

Isolation and characterization of an anticoagulant present in the salivary glands of the bont-legged tick,Hyalomma truncatum

A low molecular mass anticoagulant (17 kDa) was isolated from the salivary glands of prefed female Hyalomma truncatum ticks by means of reverse phase and anion-exchange HPLC. Trypsin digestion and amino acid analysis confirmed the protein nature of the anticoagulant. The inhibitor appears to be uncompetitive with a K_i of 6.9×10^–10M. The target of the anticoagulant is factor Xa at the junction of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. This may be crucial for the survival of the tick, making it feasible to investigate the possibility of vaccination with this antihaemostatic against tick feeding. In addition, tick anticoagulants may possibly have therapeutic application in controlling thrombosis.     

Effects of mammal submandibular gland glycoderivatives on human hemostatic system

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of glycoconjugate components extracted from the submandibular glands of four mammal species (rat, mouse, rabbit, hare) on human hemostatic system. The following analyses were performed: thromboelastography and hemocoagulation screening tests (Thrombin Time, Prothrombin Time, Partial Thromboplastin Time). Findings showed that all glycoconjugates induce modifications of fibrin clot formation time, modulus of elasticity and some hemocoagulation tests (TT, PTT). The anticoagulant effects were of inhibitory type.     

Factors V and VII anticoagulant activities in the salivary glands of feeding Dermacentor andersoni ticks

The salivary glands of Dermacentor andersoni ticks possess anticoagulant activities that can alter the clotting time of rabbit whole blood. Salivary gland extracts from female ticks inhibit both the intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation systems, and maximal activities against both pathways occur when the ticks attain about 250 mg feeding weight. These anticoagulants are directed against both coagulation factors V and VII, but they do not affect factors II or X. Despite this salivary anticoagulant activity, heavily tick-infested rabbits suffer no visible alteration of their peripheral blood coagulability and have no detectable circulating fibrin degradation products, suggesting that the ticks do not secrete a factor with fibrinolytic activity.     

Relationships between the diets and characteristics of the dentition, buccal glands and velar tentacles of the adults of the parasitic species of lamprey

The intestinal contents of adults of 12 of the 18 species of parasitic lampreys were examined microscopically and tested for blood to determine whether a species fed mainly on blood, flesh or blood and flesh. The diets of each species are shown to be related to characteristics of their dentition, buccal glands and velar tentacles. The trends exhibited by those relationships were used to hypothesize as to the diets of those six species for which there were anatomical but not dietary data. The dentition aids the suctorial disc in attaching the lamprey to its host and removing host material, while velar tentacles prevent material entering the branchial cavity and buccal glands produce lamphredin that has anticoagulant and lytic properties. In blood feeders, such as Petromyzon marinus and Mordacia species, the w-shaped transverse lingual lamina and hook-shaped longitudinal laminae bear numerous, fine cusps, which are ideal for rasping a hole in the host. In contrast, in flesh feeders, such as Lampetra fluviatilis and Geotria australis , the transverse lingual lamina is u shaped and the longitudinal laminae are straighter and possess at least one stout cusp, thereby facilitating the removal of host flesh through gouging. The buccal glands are generally larger in blood feeders than flesh feeders, presumably reflecting a need to produce anticoagulant continuously. Each velar tentacle contains a central cartilaginous rod, surrounded by a space which, during feeding, becomes engorged with blood and thus more rigid. They are small (≤1 mm long) and few (2–6) in blood feeders and large (typically ≥2 mm long) and numerous (3–42) in flesh feeders, which, in particular, require a mechanism for preventing solid material entering the branchial pouches and thus potentially clogging the gills. On the basis of recent cladistic analysis, blood feeding is ancestral to flesh feeding in Northern Hemisphere lampreys (Petromyzontidae).     

Diversity and selective pressures of anticoagulants in three medicinal leeches (Hirudinida: Hirudinidae,Macrobdellidae)

Although medicinal leeches have long been used as treatment for various ailments because of their potent anticoagulation factors, neither the full diversity of salivary components that inhibit coagulation, nor the evolutionary selection acting on them has been thoroughly investigated. Here, we constructed expressed sequence tag libraries from salivary glands of two species of medicinal hirudinoid leeches, Hirudo verbana and Aliolimnatis fenestrata, and identified anticoagulant‐orthologs through BLASTx searches. The data set then was augmented by the addition of a previously constructed EST library from the macrobdelloid leech Macrobdella decora. The identified orthologs then were compared and contrasted with well‐characterized anticoagulants from a variety of leeches with different feeding habits, including non‐sanguivorous species. Moreover, four different statistical methods for predicting signatures of positive and negative evolutionary pressures were used for 10 rounds each to assess the level and type of selection acting on the molecules as a whole and on specific sites. In total, sequences showing putative BLASTx‐orthology with five and three anticoagulant‐families were recovered in the A. fenestrata and H. verbana EST libraries respectively. Selection pressure analyses predicted high levels of purifying selection across the anticoagulant diversity, although a few isolated sites showed signatures of positive selection. This study represents a first attempt at mapping the anticoagulant repertoires in a comparative fashion across several leech families.     

Identification of SNARE and cell trafficking regulatory proteins in the salivary glands of the lone star tick,Amblyomma americanum (L.)

Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) stimulates secretion of tick salivary gland proteins via a phosphoinositide signaling pathway and mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+) (). Highly conserved intracellular SNARE (soluble NSF attachment protein receptors) complex proteins are associated with the mechanism of protein secretion in vertebrate and invertebrate neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Proteins in the salivary glands of partially fed female lone star ticks cross-react individually with antibodies to synaptobrevin-2 (vesicle (v)-SNARE), syntaxin-1A, syntaxin-2 and SNAP-25 (target (t)-SNAREs), cytosolic alpha/beta SNAP and NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein), Ca(2+) sensitive synaptotagmin, vesicle associated synaptophysin, and regulatory cell trafficking GTPases Rab3A and nSec1. V-SNARE and t-SNARE proteins form an SDS-resistant, boiling sensitive core complex in the salivary glands. Antibodies to SNARE complex proteins inhibit PGE(2)-stimulated secretion of anticoagulant protein in permeabilized tick salivary glands. We conclude that SNARE and cell trafficking regulatory proteins are present and functioning in the process of PGE(2)-stimulated Ca(2+) regulated protein secretion in tick salivary glands.     

Influence of the intestinal anticoagulant in the feeding performance of triatomine bugs (Hemiptera; Reduviidae)

Triatomines are haematophagous insects in all post-embryonic life stages. They are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Their vectorial ability is influenced by their feeding performance, which varies greatly amongst species. Recent work showed that inhibition of the coagulation process in the anterior midgut (crop) environment considerably influences the blood meal size. In this work, we performed a comparative study of the level of anticoagulant activity in the saliva and crop contents of three triatomine species - Triatoma infestans, Triatoma brasiliensis and Rhodnius prolixus - and correlated this with their feeding performance on live hosts. Moreover, the feeding parameters on a large diameter vessel influenced by the crop anticoagulants were evaluated in detail. The anticoagulant activity was significantly higher in the crop contents than in salivary glands, varying from 1.6-fold higher for R. prolixus to 70-fold higher for T. brasiliensis. Amongst the species, T. brasiliensis had the lowest crop anticoagulant activity, the lowest concentration of thrombin inhibitor, and took the longest to feed. Triatoma brasiliensis nymphs that had their intestinal anticoagulant (brasiliensin) knocked down by RNA interference had the lowest capacity to maintain cibarial pump frequency at higher levels throughout the feeding process and consequently a lower ingestion rate (mg/min), even when fed under favourable conditions (large diameter vessel). However, the feeding difficulty for brasiliensin knockdown T. brasiliensis nymphs was reversed by treating the host mice with heparin (a potent systemic anticoagulant) before blood feeding. The results indicate that crop anticoagulant activity influences modulation of the blood-pumping frequency to the intestine and significantly affects the feeding efficiency of triatomine spp. on live hosts.     

Prostaglandin E(2)-stimulated secretion of protein in the salivary glands of the lone star tick via a phosphoinositide signaling pathway

Previous studies identified a prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) receptor in the salivary glands of partially fed female lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.). In the present studies, protein secretion from dispersed salivary gland acini was shown to be specific for PGE(2), as compared with PGF(2alpha) or the thromboxane analog U-46619, in accordance with their respective binding affinities for the PGE(2) receptor. Furthermore, the selective PGE(2) EP1 receptor agonist, 17-phenyl trinor PGE(2), was as effective as PGE(2) in stimulating secretion of anticoagulant protein. Calcium ionophore A-23187 (1 to 100 microM) stimulated secretion of anticoagulant protein in a dose-dependent manner but the voltage-gated Ca(2+)-channel blocker verapamil (1 to 1000 microM) and the receptor-mediated Ca(2+)-entry antagonist, SK&F 96365 (1 and 10 microM), and 5mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,NN', N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) had no appreciable effect on inhibiting PGE(2)-stimulated secretion of anticoagulant protein. PGE(2) (0.1 microM) and the non-hydrolyzable analog of guanosine triphosphate (GTP), GTPgammaS (10 microM), directly activated phospholipase C (PLC) in a membrane-enriched fraction of the salivary glands after PLC was first incubated with the PGE(2) EP1 receptor antagonist AH-6809, which presumably antagonized endogenous PGE(2) (0.3 microM) in the broken-cell-membrane-enriched fraction. TMB-8, an antagonist of intracellular inositol trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptors, inhibited PGE(2)-stimulated secretion. The results support the hypothesis that PGE(2) stimulates secretion of tick salivary gland protein via a phosphoinositide signaling pathway and mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+).     

An integumentary mucin (FIM-B.1) from Xenopus laevis homologous with von Willebrand factor

We present a new protein from X. laevis skin termed "frog integumentary mucin B.1" (FIM-B.1) with a general structure similar to FIM-A.1 (formerly "spasmolysin"). The central region consisting of tandem repeats of 11 amino acid residues is probably a target for extensive O-glycosylation, whereas the C-terminal cysteine-rich domain shows pronounced homology with the C1-C2 domains and the C-terminal end of von Willebrand factor. Furthermore, we describe homology with antistasin, an anticoagulant peptide from a leech. We also discuss some implications concerning the evolutionary origin of von Willebrand factor. In situ hybridization studies revealed the expression of FIM-B.1 exclusively in mucous glands of the skin. This is comparable with FIM-A.1 but is in contrast to all other physiologically active peptides, which are synthesized in granular glands.     

Buccal glands of adults of the lamprey Mordacia mordax,including comparisons with other species

Mordacia mordax is one of the two anadromous parasitic lamprey species of the southern hemisphere family Mordaciidae. Its adults possess two lateral buccal glands and one central buccal gland. When the tongue-like piston is retracted, the buccal glands occupy much of the opening of the oral cavity at the rear of the buccal cavity. The glands contain numerous tube-like, ductless secretory units, which discharge directly into the buccal cavity. Their secretory epithelial cells contain numerous granules, some of which are zymogen-like, while others have a beaded, spiralled appearance. The similarity of the latter to mast cell granules suggests that they may likewise produce an anticoagulant, which would be valuable to a presumed blood feeder such as M. mordax. The mucus produced by these cells could act as a carrier for the secretions and as an adhesive for promoting retention of t he secretions on the host's surface. When the young adults is transferred to salt water, the buccal glands increase their production and discharge of secretions. Since the glands are not enclosed in musculature, their secretions are probably discharged by mechanical pressure applied by the forward movement of the head of the tooth-bearing piston into the buccal cavity. An account is given of the way in which the location, number, glandular organization, secretory granules, and type of secretion of the buccal glands of M. mordax, and thus presumably also their mode of function, differ markedly from those of members of the other lamprey family found in the southern hemisphere, and of all holarrctic lampreys. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Isolation and characterization of antistasin. An inhibitor of metastasis and coagulation

The purpose of this study was to purify and characterize the agent responsible for the antimetastatic activity of an extract of the salivary glands (SGE) of the Mexican leech Haementeria officinalis. When administered intravenously in mice on the same day as the intravenous inoculation of T241 sarcoma cells, SGE markedly reduces the number and size of lung tumor colonies. In designing a purification protocol for the antimetastatic agent, we postulated that the antimetastatic agent would also display anticoagulant activity. Thus, we discovered that heparin affinity chromatography followed by anion-exchange chromatography results in a fraction highly enriched in both potent anticoagulant activity and potent antimetastatic activity. Approximately, 200-300 micrograms of purified protein is isolated from 150 mg of SGE. As little as 15 micrograms of this material inhibits tumor cell metastasis to the same extent as 1.0 mg of the unfractionated SGE. When analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels the active fraction consists mainly of one polypeptide band having an apparent molecular weight of approximately 17,000 under either reducing or nonreducing conditions. The protein has a pI of approximately 9.5 and a molecular weight of approximately 17,000 under nondenaturing conditions. A specific antiserum prepared against the 17,000-dalton protein indicated that this protein is the major anticoagulant and antimetastatic agent of leech salivary gland extract. We have termed this anticoagulant, antimetastatic agent "antistasin." We hypothesize that antistatin inhibits coagulation via factor Xa, and not thrombin, since factor Xa, but not thrombin, is rapidly inactivated upon addition of antistasin. The mechanism of antistasin's antimetastatic activity is currently under investigation.     

Changes in salivary nitrophorin profile during the life cycle of the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus

The insect Rhodnius prolixus is a hematophagous hemipteran that has five nymphal instars. Fifth instar nymphs contain, in their salivary glands, four nitrophorins which have already been described in the literature (NP1, NP2, NP3 and NP4). Two new hemeproteins were isolated and partially characterized from first instar nymphs. NP2, that shows an anticoagulant activity, was also identified, but NP1, NP3 and NP4 were not found. As these new hemeproteins have amino-terminal sequences clearly homologous to already described nitrophorins and were capable of binding nitric oxide, they were named nitrophorins 5 and 6, although they showed an unusual Soret band at 412 nm. In each subsequent nymphal stage, a new nitrophorin emerges. In the second instar, NP4 comes into view, in the third instar NP1 appears, and NP3 is only found in fifth instar nymphs and adults, showing that the nitrophorin profile of R. prolixus saliva is stage-specific.     

The amino acid sequence of antistasin. A potent inhibitor of factor Xa reveals a repeated internal structure

Antistasin is a 15-kDa protein from the salivary glands of the Mexican leech, Haementeria officinalis, which manifests anticoagulant activity by inhibiting factor Xa. Previous work demonstrating the presence of this activity in salivary gland extracts and its partial purification has been reported (Tuszynski, G. P., Gasic, T. B, and Gasic, G.J. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 9718-9723). The present study includes further purification to homogeneity of antistasin and its subsequent fragmentation and complete amino acid sequence determination. The protein, which possesses 119 amino acid residues, is blocked at its amino terminus by the presence of a pyroglutamic acid residue and has an unusually high cysteine content, with 20 cysteine residues. The primary structure of antistasin shows no homology to hirudin, a 65-residue anticoagulant protein from the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Of great interest is the finding of significant internal homology within antistasin where a 2-fold internal repeated structure is observed. At least four isoforms of antistasin have been identified in leech salivary gland extracts by high performance liquid chromatography analysis, and partial amino acid sequence analysis of these isoforms indicates they differ by 1 or 2 amino acid residues.     

7-Aminoactinomycin D for apoptosis staining in flow cytometry

All species of the genus Rhodnius have a characteristic red coloration in their salivary glands due to the presence of heme proteins. Some of these secreted proteins, known as nitrophorins (NPs), are responsible for many of the antihemostatic activities of Rhodnius saliva such as anticoagulant and antihistamine. Several NPs have been described (NP1-4 and NP7), where NP7 is the only one with affinity to phospholipid membranes. Computational prediction suggested that NP7 also has an extended N-terminal tail on signal peptide cleavage; however, the complementary DNA does not allow the determination of the exact site of signal peptidase cleavage. On the other hand, according to previous studies, the exact length of the N-terminus has important consequences for the nitric oxide binding properties of NP7. Here, a method was developed to select phospholipid membrane-attaching proteins from homogenized tissue for analysis by mass spectrometry. The method was used to determine the exact N-terminus of the ferriheme protein NP7 from homogenates of the salivary glands of 5th instar nymphal stages of Rhodnius prolixus.     

Expression and characterization of the N-terminal half of antistasin, an anticoagulant protein derived from the leech Haementeria officinalis

Antistasin, a 15-kDa anticoagulant protein isolated from the salivary glands of the Mexican leech Haementeria officinalis, has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of factor Xa in the blood coagulation cascade. Antistasin possesses a twofold internal homology between the N- and C-terminal halves of the molecule, suggesting a gene duplication event in the evolution of the antistasin gene. This structural feature also suggests that either or both halves of the protein may possess biological activity if expressed as separate domains. Because the N-terminal domain contains a factor Xa P1-reactive site, we chose to express this domain in an insect cell baculovirus expression system. Characterization of this recombinant half antistasin molecule reveals that the N-terminal domain inhibits factor Xa in vitro, with a K(i) of 1.7 nM.     

Anticoagulant properties of a sulfated galactan preparation from a marine green alga, Codium cylindricum

An anticoagulant was isolated from a marine green alga, Codium cylindricum. The anticoagulant was composed mainly of galactose with a small amount of glucose, and was highly sulfated (13.1% as SO3Na). The anticoagulant properties of the purified anticoagulant were compared with that of heparin by assays of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT) using normal human plasma. The anticoagulant showed similar activities with heparin, however, weaker than heparin. On the other hand, the anticoagulant did not affect PT even at the concentration at which APTT and TT were strongly prolonged. The anticoagulant did not potentiate antithrombin III (AT III) and heparin cofactor II (HC II), thus the anticoagulant mechanism would be different from that of other anticoagulants isolated so far from the genus Codium.