Hirudin
| Hirudin | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Structure of hirudin (ball-stick model) in complex with thrombin (ribbon model). | |||||||||
| Identifiers | |||||||||
| Symbol | Hirudin | ||||||||
| Pfam | PF00713 | ||||||||
| InterPro | IPR000429 | ||||||||
| SCOP2 | 4htc / SCOPe / SUPFAM | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Hirudin is a naturally occurring peptide in the salivary glands of blood-sucking leeches (such as Hirudo medicinalis) that has a blood anticoagulant property. This is essential for the leeches' habit of feeding on blood, since it keeps a host's blood flowing after the worm's initial puncture of the skin.
Hirudin (MEROPS I14.001) belongs to a superfamily (MEROPS IM) of protease inhibitors that also includes haemadin (MEROPS I14.002) and antistasin (MEROPS I15).