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Structure of the elastase-cathepsin G inhibitor of the leech Hirudo medicinalis
The leech Hirudo medicinalis contains three different groups of proteinase inhibitor proteins, the thrombin-specific hirudin, the bdellins directed against trypsin, plasmin and acrosin, and the eglins which were discovered only recently. We are interested in the eglins mainly for two reasons: (i) They form strong complexes with the granulocytic elastase and cathepsin G with Ki values close to 1 x 10(-10) mol/l. Due to this property they are potential candidates for the therapeutic treatment of various diseases. (ii) Although the eglins do not contain a disulfide bridge to stabilize the tertiary structure, they are highly resistant to denaturation by acidification and by heat as well as to proteolytic degradation.
The leech Hirudo medicinalis contains three different groups of proteinase inhibitor proteins, the thrombin-specific hirudin, the bdellins directed against trypsin, plasmin and acrosin, and the eglins which were discovered only recently. We are interested in the eglins mainly for two reasons: (i) They form strong complexes with the granulocytic elastase and cathepsin G with Ki values close to 1 x 10(-10) mol/l. Due to this property they are potential candidates for the therapeutic treatment of various diseases. (ii) Although the eglins do not contain a disulfide bridge to stabilize the tertiary structure, they are highly resistant to denaturation by acidification and by heat as well as to proteolytic degradation.