Proteomic analysis of the salivary complex from the leech Haementeria depressa

Author(s)

Maria Esther Ricci da Silva

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo. , gráficos, ilustrações, tabelas.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2004-10-01

Examining board members

Ana Marisa Chudzinski Tavassi; Gandhi Radis Baptista; Patrick Jack Spencer; Denise Vilarinho Tambourgi; Walter Ribeiro Terra

• Advisor: Ana Marisa Chudzinski Tavassi
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
• Indexed in: Banco de Dados Bibliográficos da USP-DEDALUS
• Location: Universidade de São Paulo. Biblioteca do Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas; ICB/T-ICB BIOT QH323.6; R491a

Abstract

The salivary complex from H. depressa leech is composed of salivary gland and proboscis. Two-dimensional (2D) analysis showed that majority of proteins have pI from 3.5 to 9.5 and MW from 10 to 105 kDa. The 2D gel of salivary complex showed 352 total spots, 249 of them were from saliva (silver stained) and 219 total spots (Coomassie Blue stained). Proteins were identified after tandem MS sequencing (proteome) and complementar analysis of translated sequences from cDNA (transcriptome). The most abundant proteins were: antiplatelet protein; myohemerytrin; carbonic anhydrase. These proteins may have a role in digestion or antihemostatic system during blood feeding. The zymographic assay identified a gelatinolytic protein (45 kDa). But, lefaxin (inhibitor of Fxa) and hementerin (fibrinogenolytic and antiplatelet function) were not identified by these biotechonolgical techniques, showing that additional techniques are necessary for complete knowledge about the composition of this sample. (AU)