A physico-chemical study of heparin. Evidence for a calcium-induced co-operative conformational transition

Polyacrylate adsorbents for the selective adsorption of cholesterol-rich lipoproteins from plasma or blood

Polyacrylate (PAA) adsorbents selectively bind low density lipoproteins (LDL) from human plasma and blood, whereas very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) are only minimally adsorbed. The adsorption of cholesterol-rich lipoproteins to PAA adsorbents is related to the molecular weight (mw) of the polyanion ligand. Ca(++) and Mg(++) inhibit the binding of LDL to PAA adsorbents. The chemical composition of the organic hardgels of the adsorbents does not have an influence on adsorption. The selective adsorption of LDL to PAA adsorbents can be explained to result from their low negative surface charge density and the specific colloid-chemical properties of the surface-bound PAA, which do not prevent LDL from binding to charge-like domains of the ligand. By contrast, VLDL and high density lipoproteins (HDL) are repelled from the adsorbents due to their higher negative surface charge density.

Heparin is a major activator of the anticoagulant serpin, protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor

Protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor (ZPI) is a recently identified member of the serpin superfamily that functions as a cofactor-dependent regulator of blood coagulation factors Xa and XIa. Here we provide evidence that, in addition to the established cofactors, protein Z, lipid, and calcium, heparin is an important cofactor of ZPI anticoagulant function. Heparin produced 20-100-fold accelerations of ZPI reactions with factor Xa and factor XIa to yield second order rate constants approaching the physiologically significant diffusion limit (k(a) = 10(6) to 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)). The dependence of heparin accelerating effects on heparin concentration was bell-shaped for ZPI reactions with both factors Xa and XIa, consistent with a template-bridging mechanism of heparin rate enhancement. Maximal accelerations of ZPI-factor Xa reactions required calcium, which augmented the heparin acceleration by relieving Gla domain inhibition as previously shown for heparin bridging of the antithrombin-factor Xa reaction. Heparin acceleration of both ZPI-protease reactions was optimal at heparin concentrations and heparin chain lengths comparable with those that produce physiologically significant rate enhancements of other serpin-protease reactions. Protein Z binding to ZPI minimally affected heparin rate enhancements, indicating that heparin binds to a distinct site on ZPI and activates ZPI in its physiologically relevant complex with protein Z. Taken together, these results suggest that whereas protein Z, lipid, and calcium cofactors promote ZPI inhibition of membrane-associated factor Xa, heparin activates ZPI to inhibit free factor Xa as well as factor XIa and therefore may play a physiologically and pharmacologically important role in ZPI anticoagulant function.

One-step surface modification of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles with heparin

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to modify the surface of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microparticles with heparin. The heparin-coated PLGA may enhance blood and tissue compatibility of PLGA devices and provide a novel approach to deliver growth factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A one-step method using heparin to replace traditional emulsifiers (e.g., PVA) during emulsion-solvent evaporation process was employed to surface-entrap heparin in PLGA microspheres. The emulsifying activity of heparin was modified via varying counter ion form, including univalent (Na(+), K(+), Li(+), and [Formula: see text]) and divalent (Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Ba(2+), and Zn(2+)) cations, and complexation with amino acids (Arg, Lys, Leu, Val, Gly and Glu). Surface accessible and total heparin loading were determined by a modified toluidine blue assay and elemental analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

Heparin bound with univalent counter ions and amino acids exhibited emulsifying activity to varying degrees, whereas divalent heparin salts tended to cause complete aggregation of the PLGA o/w emulsion. Increasing pH (>or=7.4) of hardening medium enhanced heparin adsorption and significantly stabilized the PLGA o/w emulsion. The initial surface density of heparin on the PLGA microspheres prepared using univalent heparin salts was around 8-33 mg/m(2). Surface associated heparin desorbed quickly; potassium heparin showed the best retention, with approximately 0.2 and 0.1 mg/m(2) detected on PLGA microsphere surface following 1- and 14-day incubation in PBST at 37 degrees C, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PLGA microparticles were successfully surface-modified with heparin. Univalent salts and amino acid complexes of heparin, as effective emulsifiers, can become surface-immobilized in PLGA microspheres.

Heparin influence on alpha-staphylotoxin formed channel

The effects of heparin on ion channels formed by Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin (ST channel) in lipid bilayers were studied under voltage clamp conditions. Heparin concentrations as small as 100 pM induced a sharp dose-dependent increase in channel voltage sensitivity. This was only observed when heparin was added to the negative-potential side of lipid bilayers in the presence of divalent cations. Divalent cations differ in their efficiency: Zn2+>Ca2+>Mg2+. The apparent positive gating charge increased 2-3-fold with heparin addition as well as with acidification of the bathing solution. 'Free' carboxyl groups and carboxyl groups in ion pairs of the protein moiety are hypothesized to interact with sulfated groups of heparin through divalent cation bridges. The cis mouth of the channel (that protrudes beyond the membrane plane on the side of ST addition and to which voltage was applied) is less sensitive to heparin than the trans-mouth. It is suggested that charged residues which interact with heparin at the cis mouth of ST channels and which contribute to the effective gating charge at negative voltage may be physically different from those at the trans mouth and at positive voltage.

Heparinase I from Flavobacterium heparinum. Mapping and characterization of the heparin binding domain

In this study we have identified the primary heparin binding site of heparinase I (EC 4.2.2.7). Chemical and proteolytic digests of heparinase I were used in direct binding and competition assays, to map the regions of heparinase I that interact specifically with heparin. We find the heparin binding site contains two Cardin-Weintraub heparin binding consensus sequences and a calcium co-ordination consensus motif. We show that heparin binding to heparinase I is independent of calcium (Kd of 60 nm) and that calcium is able to activate heparinase I catalytically. We find that sulfhydryl selective labeling of cysteine 135 of heparinase I protects the lysines of the heparin binding sequence from proteolytic cleavage, suggesting the close proximity of the heparin binding site to the active site. Site-directed mutagenesis of H203A (contained in the heparin binding site) inactivated heparinase I; however, a H203D mutant retained marginal activity, indicating a role for this residue in catalysis. The above results taken together suggest that histidine 203 (hence the heparin binding site) is immediately adjacent to the scissile bond. We propose that the heparin binding site and active site are in close proximity to each other and that the calcium coordination motif, contained in the heparin binding site, may bridge heparin to heparinase I through calcium in a ternary complex during catalysis.

Multinuclear magnetic resonance studies of the interaction of inorganic cations with heparin

The interaction of Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+ and La3+ with heparin, a highly negatively charged glycosaminoglycan, was studied by 1H and 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. 1H chemical shift and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) data indicate that the counter ions Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ interact with the low pH, carboxylic acid form of heparin by delocalized, long-range electrostatic interactions. At higher pH, 1H chemical shift and NOE data indicate that Na+ and Mg2+ continue to interact with heparin in the same manner, even upon deprotonation of the carboxylic acid group; however, there is a site-specific contribution to the binding of Ca2+, Zn2+ and La3+ under these conditions. Acid dissociation constants for heparin carboxylic acid groups and heparin-metal binding constants were determined from the pH dependence of 1H chemical shifts and 23Na spin-lattice (T1) relaxation times. Equilibrium constants for exchange of M2+ for heparin-bound Na+ were obtained from 23Na T1 data. The acid dissociation constants show a strong dependence on Na+ concentration due to the polyelectrolyte character of heparin.

Physical characterization of heparin by light scattering

Dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering were used to measure the size and charge heterogeneity of a commercial preparation of heparin. For this preparation of porcine mucosal heparin (M(r) = 10-20 kDa), the diffusion coefficient was 1.2 +/- 0.5 x 10(-8) cm2/S and the mobility was 4.4 +/- 0.9 x 10(-4) cm2/Vs for an unfiltered solution at 22 degrees C in distilled water. This diffusion constant is 2 orders of magnitude smaller than expected for a molecule the size of heparin. A fast diffusion component of 5.8 +/- 1.0 x 10(-7) cm2/S, corresponding to the individual molecule, was observed in the presence of 2 M NaCl, where single molecule motion is better observed. This indicates that a portion of the heparin population is in an aggregated state, which produces a higher scattering intensity than individual heparin molecules. The weight percentage of the aggregates was 5-10 as measured by high performance exclusion chromatography. These aggregates were stable up to a temperature of 75 degrees C as measured by light scattering. This suggests that the aggregates are made up of tightly bound heparin molecules. From the diffusion coefficients we estimate the average aggregate to be made up of about 50 heparin monomers, and from the mobility, we estimate the electrophoretic charge on the aggregate to be about 1000 or about 20 electrophoretic charges for each heparin monomer. The electrophoretic light-scattering measurements also indicate that the aggregate scattering species have very similar surface charge densities resulting from the aggregates being formed from heparin molecules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A study of Ca(2+)-heparin complex-formation by polarimetry

Possible inflexions in isothermal binding plots derived from equilibrium-dialysis measurements and in equivalent plots obtained by polarimetric measurements accord with the possibility that discrete Ca(2+)-heparin-water complexes/phases may exist, the nature and proportions of which depend on the conditions under which the interaction occurs. Analysis of the plots obtained by polarimetric study of chemically modified heparins suggests, for individual substituents groups, an order of importance of carboxylate greater than N-sulphonate greater than N-acetyl greater than O-sulphate for the Ca(2+)-heparin interaction occurring at [Ca2+]/[heparin disaccharide] ratios of less than 0.5. At higher ratios, transitions occur that eventually lead to the formation of a complex in which the stoichiometry of association is 1 Ca2+ ion/heparin disaccharide unit.

Infrared spectroscopy of heparins suggests that the region 750-950 cm-1 is sensitive to changes in iduronate residue ring conformation

By careful definition of polymer environment, heparin i.r. spectra were examined in a region (750-950 cm-1) in which sulphate half-ester absorptions occur. Changes seen in this region when metal ion-heparin complexes are converted into heparinic acid, when heparin is carboxy-group-reduced and when various concentrations of Li(+)-heparin are examined are tentatively interpreted in terms of changes in the ring conformation of iduronate residues.

Calcium requirement and increased association with bovine sperm during capacitation by heparin

The requirement for external Ca+2 during capacitation of ejaculated bovine sperm with heparin and changes in sperm-associated 45Ca+2 during capacitation were investigated in vitro. Sperm capacitation was evaluated by ability to undergo an acrosome reaction (AR) upon exposure to lysophosphatidylcholine. The percentage of sperm which were capacitated during a 4 h incubation with heparin increased exponentially with increased exposure time to 2 mM Ca+2. When sperm were incubated with or without heparin in the presence of 45CaCl2, there was no difference in the amount of 45Ca+2 associated with sperm initially or at 1 h of incubation. Incubation with heparin resulted in a greater amount of sperm-associated 45Ca+2 at 2, 3, and 4 h as compared to sperm incubated without heparin. The amount of 45Ca+2 associated with sperm during capacitation was unaffected by washing with 2 mM EGTA-5 mM LaCl3. Glucose (5 mM) inhibited the effects of heparin on sperm-associated 45Ca+2 and on capacitation. The inhibitory effects of glucose could be overridden by 8-bromo-cAMP. The results suggest that the requirement for external Ca+2 during capacitation with heparin may be related to an increased association of external Ca+2 with sperm.

Quantitative similarity of zinc and calcium binding to heparin in excess salt solution

Zn2+ binding to the anticoagulant heparin was examined using a dye spectrophotometric method, with added NaCl concentrations of 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04 mol/l. The results are shown as Scatchard plots and demonstrate the entropy-driven anticooperativity of Zn2+ binding to heparin. From these Scatchard plots, intrinsic binding constants are determined and are compared to our earlier data for Mg2+ and Ca2+ binding to heparin at similar ionic strengths (J. Mattai and J.C.T. Kwak, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 677 (1981) 303), and to Manning's two-variable theory (G.S. Manning, Q. Rev. Biophys. 2 (1978) 179) for a generalized system of polyelectrolyte + divalent cations + univalent cations. While Mg2+ binding to heparin is purely electrostatic (delocalized or territorial), Zn2+ and Ca2+ binding is much stronger and more specific. Binding constants for these two cations are identical, suggesting similar mechanisms for Zn2+ and Ca2+ binding to heparin.

A relationship between 13C-chemical-shift displacements and counterion-condensation theory, in the binding of calcium ion by heparin

Characteristics of the interaction between heparin and calcium ion in the presence of sodium ion have been examined by monitoring the 13C-chemical shift changes as a function of the calcium ion concentration and the total ionic strength. The results indicated that the association between the polyanion and the divalent cation is a delocalized process, as opposed to one involving specific binding. The correspondence found between chemical shift and the number of Ca2+ ions bound per charged group, as derived from the Manning counterion-condensation model, showed that the stoichiometry is not a constant quantity but, rather, varies throughout the titration, and approaches a limiting value of 2 at high dilution. Additional measurements of T1 and line-width were consistent with an intramolecular order-disorder conformational process induced by the binding of calcium ion. Moreover, binding does not occur or is relatively weak with N-desulfated heparin, or chondroitin 4-sulfate and 6-sulfate, each of which possesses fewer sulfate groups than heparin. These differences serve to emphasize the importance of the charge-density parameter in the control of counterion condensation according to the Manning model, and suggest that the spacing between the negatively charged groups is an associated factor.

Infrared spectroscopy of heparin-cation complexes

Hydrated and partially hydrated films and aqueous solutions of heparin, heparans and N-desulphated preparations of these polymers were studied by near- and fundamental-region-i.r. spectroscopy in the presence of a range of countercations. The results suggest that ion binding is not explicable solely in terms of simple electrostatic theory, and that specific cation effects, and the hydration pattern of the polymer-cation complex need to be taken into account.

N.m.r. spectroscopic observations related to the function of sulfate groups in heparin. Calcium binding vs. biological activity

Chemically-modified heparins containing different combinations of N- and O-sulfate groups were prepared. Characterized by high field 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy, the polymers exhibited chemical shift variations in general accord with shielding differences expected on removal of sulfate substituents, and additional variations that probably arose from conformational changes in the polymers. Whereas the anticoagulant activity of heparins, as measured by USP, anti-Xa, and thrombin-time assays, was invariably reduced by the chemical transformations effected, the ability of heparin to bind calcium ions was found to be dependent on retention of the 2-sulfamino group, whether or not O-sulfate groups were present. The results suggest that the 2-sulfamino group is essential for maintaining a molecular conformation consistent with the ability for the L-iduronic acid residues to complex with calcium ions. Also, they show that although the anticoagulant and calcium-binding properties of heparin may be interdependent, they are not determined by the same structural entities in the polymer.

Specific binding of [3H]heparin to bovine granulosa cell membranes

Bovine granulosa cell membranes from small (SFM) and large (LFM) antral follicles were incubated with [3H]heparin, a commercial radioactively labeled glycosaminoglycan (GAG). Binding was specific, reversible, saturable, and dependent on time, pH, ionic strength and divalent cations. SFM exhibited different [3H]heparin binding characteristics compared to LFM. The addition of a physiological concentration of calcium (2 mM) yielded significant differences (P less than 0.02) in [3H]heparin binding for SFM (87 590 +/- 4206 dpm/10(6) cells) compared to LFM (55 230 +/- 2816 dpm/10(6) cells). SFM and LFM showed maximum [3H]heparin binding at pH 6.5 and pH 5.5, respectively. Increasing the ionic strength by addition of 0.07-2.0 M NaCl interfered with binding. Addition of unlabeled heparin (0.1-100 micrograms/ml) displaced [3H]heparin bound to SFM and LFM in a dose-dependent manner, as did dextran sulfate, a non-GAG sulfated branched polysaccharide. Commercial chondroitin sulfate ABC displaced the bound [3H]heparin only at doses between 50 and 500 mg/ml. GAGs purified from FF suppressed binding 39% at a concentration of 5.9 mg/ml. Photomicrographs of fluorescein-labeled heparin bound to granulosa cells showed localized areas of heparin binding to the cell surface. These experiments demonstrated that the GAG heparin specifically bound to bovine granulosa cell membranes, and that significant differences existed between the binding characteristics of SFM and LFM.

Specific binding of the glycosaminoglycan 3H-heparin to bull, monkey, and rabbit spermatozoa in vitro

In Vitro binding and some binding parameters of the glycosaminoglycan heparin to viable epididymal or ejaculated bull spermatozoa, ejaculated rabbit spermatozoa, and frozen-thawed rhesus monkey spermatozoa were investigated. Nonspecific binding was affected only by the concentration of 3H-heparin, whereas specific binding was saturable, reversible, and dependent on the pH, temperature, and calcium concentration of the incubation medium. Magnesium concentration dependence was observed in the presence of calcium but could not be detected in the absence of calcium. Bound 3H-heparin was displaced by several orders of magnitude greater concentrations of chondroitin sulfate. Scatchard plot analysis suggested multiple binding affinities for 3H-heparin to spermatozoa. 3H-heparin was shown to bind to sperm heads and flagella. Fluorescein-labeled heparin bound to acrosomal, postacrosomal, and flagellar membranes. It was concluded that the specific binding of heparin involved a proteinaceous component on, or intercalated with, spermatozoal membranes. Thus, glycosaminoglycans present in the female reproductive tract may contribute to sperm capacitation and enhance the likelihood of successful fertilization in mammals.

The macroanionic activity of heparins in the presence of dextrose and calcium ion

The effect of dextrose on heparin was investigated using the heparin-azur A interaction as a measure of macroanionic activity. Dextrose solutions did not diminish heparin-azur A metachromasia but prior autoclaving of the dextrose solution resulted in a slight decrease. When calcium chloride was added to the dextrose (autoclaved or unautoclaved) there was a reduction which was greater than that caused by calcium ion in the absence of dextrose. The effects of calcium ion and dextrose acting together were each concentration - dependent. A low molecular weight fraction (8400) was more susceptible to the effects of calcium in the presence of dextrose than a fraction of mol. wt. 19 000, hence unfractionated heparins with different amounts of various fractions may respond differently to calcium in the presence of dextrose. This has not been considered in earlier studies of the anticoagulant activity of unfractionated heparins in dextrose infusion and could has contributed to reported discrepancies, particularly in view of the variety of test methods used. At present, it is not possible to predict from in vitro tests whether dextrose will modify the in vivo anticoagulant activity of heparin.

Interaction of the three main components of clupeine with glycosaminoglycans

The interactions between each of the three main components of clupeine (YI, YII and Z) and the glycosaminoglycans chondroitin sulfate, heparin and hyaluronic acid were studied with circular dichroism spectroscopy. The induced dichroism is a measure of relative complex stability, which increases with the number of sulfate groups on the glycosaminoglycan. Measuring the induced dichroism as a function of mole ratio of disaccharide to arginine establishes the stoichiometry of the complexes. For a given glycosaminoglycan, the induced dichroism depends on the clupeine, increasing the order YI less than YII less than Z.