Isolation and identification of chondroitin sulfates from the mud snail

A Review of Chondroitin Sulfate's Preparation, Properties, Functions, and Applications

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a natural macromolecule polysaccharide that is extensively distributed in a wide variety of organisms. CS is of great interest to researchers due to its many in vitro and in vivo functions. CS production derives from a diverse number of sources, including but not limited to extraction from various animals or fish, bio-synthesis, and fermentation, and its purity and homogeneity can vary greatly. The structural diversity of CS with respect to sulfation and saccharide content endows this molecule with distinct complexity, allowing for functional modification. These multiple functions contribute to the application of CS in medicines, biomaterials, and functional foods. In this article, we discuss the preparation of CS from different sources, the structure of various forms of CS, and its binding to other relevant molecules. Moreover, for the creation of this article, the functions and applications of CS were reviewed, with an emphasis on drug discovery, hydrogel formation, delivery systems, and food supplements. We conclude that analyzing some perspectives on structural modifications and preparation methods could potentially influence future applications of CS in medical and biomaterial research.

Plastering the head with crushed snails to treat pediatric hydrocephalus: an ancient therapy with a pharmacological basis

In the Middle Ages, medical therapy for pediatric hydrocephalus was characterized by the application of drying substances to decrease the size of the heads of affected children. A poultice of crushed snails applied to the head was considered to be one of the most powerful therapies for reducing swelling caused by excessive humors. Incunabula (texts printed in Europe before 1501 CE) and Renaissance texts document the extended use of this therapy, which was considered by physicians to be effective and less dangerous than surgical treatment.

A novel approach for the characterisation of proteoglycans and biosynthetic enzymes in a snail model

Proteoglycans encompass a heterogeneous group of glycoconjugates where proteins are substituted with linear, highly negatively charged glycosaminoglycan chains. Sulphated glycosaminoglycans are ubiquitous to the animal kingdom of the Eukarya domain. Information on the distribution and characterisation of proteoglycans in invertebrate tissues is limited and restricted to a few species. By the use of multidimensional protein identification technology and immunohistochemistry, this study shows for the first time the presence and tissue localisation of different proteoglycans, such as perlecan, aggrecan, and heparan sulphate proteoglycan, amongst others, in organs of the gastropoda Achatina fulica. Through a proteomic analysis of Golgi proteins and immunohistochemistry of tissue sections, we detected the machinery involved in glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, related to polymer formation (polymerases), as well as secondary modifications (sulphation and uronic acid epimerization). Therefore, this work not only identifies both the proteoglycan core proteins and glycosaminoglycan biosynthetic enzymes in invertebrates but also provides a novel method for the study of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan evolution.

Evolution of glycosaminoglycans: Comparative biochemical study

Glycosaminoglycans, a major component of the extracellular matrix molecules in animal tissues, play important roles in various physiological events. Glycosaminoglycans are found in not only vertebrates but also many invertebrates, implying a conserved function in the animal kingdom. Here, we discuss the analysis of glycosaminoglycans in 11 invertebrate phyla focusing on structure as well as physiological functions elucidated in model organisms. Various sulfated structures of heparan sulfate are widely distributed from very primitive organisms to humans, indicating an involvement in fundamental biological processes. By contrast, chondroitin/dermatan sulfate from lower organisms is limited in its structural complexity and often associated with a particular function. The presence of hyaluronic acid outside of vertebrates has been reported only in a mollusk.

Immunomodulating and anticoagulant activity of glycosaminoglycans derived from porcine testis

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were isolated from the porcine testis, and their immunomodulating and anticoagulant activity was investigated. From anion exchange chromatography (Dowex Macropolous Resin) used for further isolation of porcine testis GAGs (PT-GAGs), two fractions (PT-GAG-1.5 and PT-GAG-16) eluted by different salt concentration were obtained. In immunomodulating activity test, PT-GAG-1.5, but not PT-GAG-16, significantly enhanced the growth of murine peritoneal macrophages. In addition, treatment with PT-GAG-1.5 induced the production of cytokines, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), from murine microphages. Unexpectedly, both of PT-GAGs had no effect on the growth of murine splenocytes. The anticoagulant activity of PT-GAG-1.5 and PT-GAG-16 was examined by activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assay and thrombin time (TT) assay. Both of PT-kGAGs significantly increased the clotting times of aPTT and TT in a dose-dependent manner. The anticoagulant activity of PT-GAG-16 was found to be higher than that of PT-GAG-1.5. These results suggest that PT-GAGs possess biological activities such as immunomodulating activity and anticoagulant activity.

Isolation and characterization of proteoglycan derived from human placenta and its biological activities

Chondroitin sulfates proteoglycans were isolated from human placenta. For the identification of enzymatic digestion products of isolated proteoglycan, strong anion, exchange-high performance liquid chromatography (SAX-HPLC) was performed. By the action of chondroitin ABC and chondroitin B lyase, three unsaturated disaccharides 2-acetamide-2-deoxy-3-O-(beta-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-D-galactose (deltaDi-OS), 2-acetamide-2-deoxy-3-O-(beta-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-6-O-sulfo-D-galactose (deltaDi-6S) and 2-acetamide-2-deoxy-3-O-(beta-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-4-O-sulfo-D-galactose (deltaDi-4S) were produced from the human placenta proteoglycan. The anticoagulant activity of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan was evaluated by activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assay and thrombin time (TT) assay. The clotting times of aPTT and TT were increased from 72 to 144 sec and 19 to 27 sec, respectively. The immuno-modulating activity of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan was examined by cell proliferation assay and these results suggest that it may play a role in suppression of the function of immune-related cells.