r-hirudin EC

Hirudin is the most potent and specific thrombin inhibitor known. It forms a stable equimolar complex with thrombin. The complete structure of hirudin has been elucidated [Dodt et al., 1984] and a gene coding for hirudin was subsequently synthesized and expressed in yeast [Meyhack et al., 1987] and other micro-organisms. The amino acid sequence of recombinant hirudin (r-Hirudin, [Leu1, Thr2]-63-desulfatohirudin) corresponds to natural hirudin except for the substitution of leucine for isoleucine at the Nterminal end of the molecule and the absence of a sulfate group on the tyrosine at position 63.