Purification and characterization of heparin lyases from Flavobacterium heparinum

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha alters the metabolism of endothelial cell proteoglycans

Cytokines play an important role in modulating cellular function. The effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) on the metabolism of proteoglycans (PGs) was studied in mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAE). Confluent and exponentially growing cells were labeled with [35S] sulfate and [3H] glycine, and PGs isolated from the secreted, the pericellular, and intracellular pools. TNF-alpha influenced the metabolism of MAE PGs. This effect of TNF-alpha was dependent on the growth state of the cells. Nondividing MAE secrete PGs that have higher net negative charge than PGs from exponentially growing cells. TNF-alpha treatment further increased the net negative charge of PGs secreted from nondividing cells. Treatment of MAE with TNF-alpha caused a substantial decrease in the sulfation of PGs isolated from pericellular pool of nondividing cells, while it had the opposite effect on pericellular PGs isolated from dividing cells. Our results indicate that changes in PGs metabolism induced by TNF-alpha may contribute to the disturbance of vascular endothelial homeostasis associated with vascular injury in a variety of disease states.

Specificity studies on the heparin lyases from Flavobacterium heparinum

An understanding of the substrate specificity study of the heparin lyases (heparinase and heparitinases) is crucial for elucidation of the sequence of heparin and heparan sulfate. Four chemically modified heparins have been used to study the substrate specificity of the three heparin lyases. These modified heparins include the N- and O-desulfated and then specifically N-sulfated or N-acetylated derivatives of heparin and a modified heparin containing L-galactopyranosyluronic acid residues. These chemically modified heparins were degraded to various extents by the three heparin lyases. Differences in degree of sulfation have profound impact on the ease of cleavage of glycosidic linkages. Heparin lyase I (EC 4.2.2.7) is selective in cleaving highly sulfated polysaccharide chains containing linkages to 2-O-sulfated alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid residues. Heparin lyase III (EC 4.2.2.8) cleaves linkages that have reduced density of sulfation and that contain beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid residues. The ability of heparin lyase III to act on linkages to unsulfated alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid residues is observed for the first time. Heparin lyase II (no assigned EC number) demonstrates an unparalleled, wide specificity for substrates comprised of linkages containing both alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic and beta-D- glucopyranosyluronic acid residues. Heparin lyase II can also act on substrates containing linkages to unnatural alpha-L-galactopyranosyluronic acid residues. The high level of specificity of heparin lyase I makes it particularly suitable for use in the sequencing of heparin and heparan sulfate, while caution must be exercised in using heparin lyases II and III to sequence heparin and heparan sulfate because of their relatively broad specificity.

Calcium-dependent heparin-like ligands for L-selectin in nonlymphoid endothelial cells

L-Selectin is a calcium-dependent mammalian lectin that mediates lymphocyte trafficking by recognizing sialylated ligands on high endothelial venules in lymph nodes. Although L-selectin probably mediates neutrophil extravasation into nonlymphoid tissues, no corresponding ligand has been characterized. Staining of cultured endothelial cells with an L-selectin chimera (LS-Rg) showed an internal pool of ligands. Metabolic labeling with sulfur-35-labeled sulfate revealed heparin lyase-sensitive ligands that bound LS-Rg in a calcium-dependent, sialic acid-independent manner. A fraction of commercial heparin bound to LS-Rg and LS-Rg bound to heparin-agarose, both in a calcium-dependent manner. Thus, L-selectin recognizes endothelial heparin-like chains, which could be physiological ligands mediating leucocyte trafficking.

Monoclonal antibodies prepared against heparin lyase I and their reactivity toward heparin lyase I, II and III

1. Six different monoclonal IgG mouse antibodies to heparin lyase I from Flavobacterium heparinum were prepared. 2. The monoclonal antibodies were used to detect heparin lyases I, II and III by dot-blotting immunoassay and by Western blotting. 3. Individual antibodies showed different reactivity toward the three heparin lyases. 4. The reactivity of two of the monoclonal antibodies was destroyed by exposing heparin lyases to sodium dodecyl sulfate. 5. The antibodies can be used to rapidly distinguish between the three heparin lyases.