A selective αvβ5 integrin antagonist hidden into the anophelin family protein cE5 from the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae
A RGD motif was identified in the N-terminal region of cE5, a potent salivary thrombin inhibitor
from the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. A peptide (APQ30) encompassing the first 30
amino acids residues of the protein and including the RGD tripeptide was tested in cell adhesion
assays and found to inhibit avb3 and avb5 mediated adhesion. A shorter peptide (APQ16), strongly
conserved among members of the A. gambiae species complex and including only the first 16 residues,