Skip to Content
Merck
All Photos(1)

Key Documents

View All Documentation

H7016

Sigma-Aldrich

Hirudin

from leeches, ≥1,500 ATU/mg protein, lyophilized powder

Sign Into View Organizational & Contract Pricing
All Photos(1)

About This Item

CAS Number:
8001-27-2
EC Number:
232-279-1
MDL number:
MFCD00081692
UNSPSC Code:
12352202

product name

Hirudin from leeches, lyophilized powder, ≥1,500 ATU/mg protein (ATU = antithrombin units)

biological source

animal (Hirudo verbana)

Quality Level

100
200

form

lyophilized powder

specific activity

≥1,500 ATU/mg protein (ATU = antithrombin units)

mol wt

7 kDa

solubility

pyridine: soluble
water: soluble

storage temp.

2-8°C

Looking for similar products? Visit Product Comparison Guide

General description

Hirudin is a 7 kDa acidic protein containing 65 amino acid residues that has an isoelectric point of 3.5-4.0. It is not glycosylated and lacks tryptophan, arginine and methionine residues. It is chemically stable between pH 2-12 and at temperatures up to 80°C.

Biochem/physiol Actions

The anticoagulant, hirudin, is the most potent natural inhibitor of both soluble and clot-bound thrombin. It forms a high-affinity 1:1 complex with thrombin, occluding both the proteolytic site and exosite I (fibrinogen and PAR recognition site). Hirudin blocks thrombus growth and platelet activation, and has been suggested as the clinically preferred anticoagulant (over heparin and citrate) for its specific mode of action and absence of side effects. It is not metabolized in the bloodstream of humans and is eliminated unchanged via kidney filtration.

Unit Definition

One unit (ATU) will neutralize one NIH unit of thrombin at 37 °C, based on direct comparison to an NIH thrombin reference standard.

Analysis Note

Protein determined by Lowry.

Storage Class Code

11 - Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

Already Own This Product?

Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.

Visit the Document Library

Sarah E Sartain et al.
Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 196(2), 832-845 (2015-12-18)
Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a thrombotic microangiopathy with severe renal injury secondary to an overactive alternative complement pathway (AP). aHUS episodes are often initiated or recur during inflammation. We investigated gene expression of the surface complement regulatory proteins
Mengzhou Xue et al.
Brain : a journal of neurology, 132(Pt 1), 26-36 (2008-09-06)
Proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and thrombin are implicated in intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) but their interactions amongst one another and interdependency remain to be defined. The latter is important since proteases acting through different mechanisms to inflict neurotoxicity would
Yaoming Wang et al.
Stroke, 40(5), 1864-1869 (2008-12-06)
Activated protein C (APC), a protease with anticoagulant and cytoprotective activities, protects neurons and endothelium from ischemic injury. Drotrecogin-alfa activated, a hyperanticoagulant form of human recombinant APC, is currently being studied in patients with ischemic stroke. How changes in APC

Our team of scientists has experience in all areas of research including Life Science, Material Science, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Analytical and many others.

Contact Technical Service