Merck Patent Gmbh

Detlef Güssow

Uwe Hofmann

Bernhard Scheuble

Wolfgang Strittmatter

Zisi Fotev

Jürgen Hemberger

Maria Kordowicz

Andrzej Gardas

Tadeusz Pacuszka

A naturally occurring protein isolated from the saliva of the medicinal leechis described which strongly binds to collagen thus acting as an inhibitor of natural platelet adhesion to collagen. The protein has a molecular weight of about 12,000, an acidic isoelectric point and contains six cysteins. The protein was sequenced and the gene was cloned from acDNA-library. Procedures for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques are disclosed. The recombinant and the natural occurring proteins are potent inhibitors of collagen-dependent platelet adhesion and therefore useful for the therapeutic treatment of various conditions related to heart disease and diseases of the circulation system. Furthermore, the protein is useful for coating natural or artificial collagen surfaces in order to render them nonadhesive for cells and prevent the activation of cells.

Protein for blocking platelet adhesion

The present invention relates to the isolation, purification and characterization of a hyaluronidase which derives from the tropical leech. Therefore, according to this invention, the enzyme was called 'manillase'. The invention is furthermore concerned with the recombinant method of production of manillase which includes the disclosure of DNA and amino acid sequences as well as of expression vectors and host systems. Finally, the invention relates to the use of manillase for therapeutic purposes, for example, for the treatment of myocardial diseases, thrombotic events and tumors.

[object Object]

A naturally occurring protein isolated from the saliva of the medicinal leechis described which strongly binds to collagen thus acting as an inhibitor of natural platelet adhesion to collagen. The protein has a molecular weight of about 12,000, an acidic isoelectric point and contains six cysteins. The protein was sequenced and the gene was cloned from acDNA-library. Procedures for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques are disclosed. The recombinant and the natural occurring proteins are potent inhibitors of collagen-dependent platelet adhesion and therefore useful for the therapeutic treatment of various conditions related to hard disease and diseases of the circulation system. Furthermore the protein is useful for coating natural or artificial collagen surfaces in order to render them nonadhesive for cells and prevent the activation of cells.

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Darmstadt, Germany

Detlef Güssow