Isolation of the porcine heparin tetrasaccharides with glucuronate 2-O-sulfate

Glycosaminoglycan microarrays for studying glycosaminoglycan-protein systems

More than 3000 proteins are now known to bind to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Yet, GAG-protein systems are rather poorly understood in terms of selectivity of recognition, molecular mechanism of action, and translational promise. High-throughput screening (HTS) technologies are critically needed for studying GAG biology and developing GAG-based therapeutics. Microarrays, developed within the past two decades, have now improved to the point of being the preferred tool in the HTS of biomolecules. GAG microarrays, in which GAG sequences are immobilized on slides, while similar to other microarrays, have their own sets of challenges and considerations. GAG microarrays are rapidly becoming the first choice in studying GAG-protein systems. Here, we review different modalities and applications of GAG microarrays presented to date. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of this technology, explain covalent and non-covalent immobilization strategies using different chemically reactive groups, and present various assay formats for qualitative and quantitative interpretations, including selectivity screening, binding affinity studies, competitive binding studies etc. We also highlight recent advances in implementing this technology, cataloging of data, and project its future promise. Overall, the technology of GAG microarray exhibits enormous potential of evolving into more than a mere screening tool for studying GAG - protein systems.

Heparanase as an Additional Tool for Detecting Structural Peculiarities of Heparin Oligosaccharides

Due to the biological properties of heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), continuous advances in elucidation of their microheterogeneous structure and discovery of novel structural peculiarities are crucial. Effective strategies for monitoring manufacturing processes and assessment of more restrictive specifications, as imposed by the current regulatory agencies, need to be developed. Hereby, we apply an efficient heparanase-based strategy to assert the structure of two major isomeric octasaccharides of dalteparin and investigate the tetrasaccharides arising from antithrombin binding region (ATBR) of bovine mucosal heparin. Heparanase, especially when combined with other sample preparation methods (e.g., size exclusion, affinity chromatography, heparinase depolymerization), was shown to be a powerful tool providing relevant information about heparin structural peculiarities. The applied approach provided direct evidence that oligomers bearing glucuronic acid–glucosamine-3-O-sulfate at their nonreducing end represent an important structural signature of dalteparin. When extended to ATBR-related tetramers of bovine heparin, the heparanase-based approach allowed for elucidation of the structure of minor sequences that have not been reported yet. The obtained results are of high importance in the view of the growing interest of regulatory agencies and manufacturers in the development of low-molecular-weight heparin generics as well as bovine heparin as alternative source.

Oligosaccharide Chromatographic Techniques for Quantitation of Structural Process-Related Impurities in Heparin Resulting From 2-O Desulfation

Heparin is a widely-used intravenous anticoagulant comprising a complex mixture of highly-sulfated linear polysaccharides of repeating sequences of uronic acids (either iduronic or glucuronic) 1->4 linked to D-glucosamine with specific sulfation patterns. Preparation of crude heparin from mammalian mucosa involves protease digestion with alcalase under basic conditions (pH ≥ 9) and high temperature (>50°C) and also oxidation. Under such conditions, side reactions including the ubiquitous 2-O desulfation occur on the heparin backbone yielding non-endogenous disaccharides within polysaccharide chains. Whatever the process used for its manufacture, some level of corresponding degradation impurities is therefore expected to be found in heparin and the derived Low Molecular Weight Heparins. These impurities should be monitored to control the quality of the final therapeutic product. Two anion exchange chromatography techniques were used to analyze heparin samples exhaustively or partially depolymerized with heparinases and determine the proportions of non-endogenous disaccharides generated by side reactions during the manufacturing process (epoxides and galacturonic moieties). We also present data from a case study of marketed heparin. Current heparin sodium monographs do not directly address process impurities related to modification of the structure of heparin. Although desulfation reduces the overall biological potency, we found that heparin with an average of one modified disaccharide per chain can still comply with the USP or Ph. Eur. heparin sodium monographs requirements. We have implemented disaccharide analysis to monitor the quality of this product on a risk basis.

Heparan Sulfate Microarray Reveals That Heparan Sulfate-Protein Binding Exhibits Different Ligand Requirements

Heparan sulfates (HS) are linear sulfated polysaccharides that modulate a wide range of physiological and disease-processes. Variations in HS epimerization and sulfation provide enormous structural diversity, which is believed to underpin protein binding and regulatory properties. The ligand requirements of HS-binding proteins have, however, been defined in only a few cases. We describe here a synthetic methodology that can rapidly provide a library of well-defined HS oligosaccharides. It is based on the use of modular disaccharides to assemble several selectively protected tetrasaccharides that were subjected to selective chemical modifications such as regioselective O- and N-sulfation and selective de-sulfation. A number of the resulting compounds were subjected to enzymatic modifications by 3-O-sulfotransferases-1 (3-OST1) to provide 3-O-sulfated derivatives. The various approaches for diversification allowed one tetrasaccharide to be converted into 12 differently sulfated derivatives. By employing tetrasaccharides with different backbone compositions, a library of 47 HS-oligosaccharides was prepared and the resulting compounds were used to construct a HS microarray. The ligand requirements of a number of HS-binding proteins including fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), and the chemokines CCL2, CCL5, CCL7, CCL13, CXCL8, and CXCL10 were examined using the array. Although all proteins recognized multiple compounds, they exhibited clear differences in structure-binding characteristics. The HS microarray data guided the selection of compounds that could interfere in biological processes such as cell proliferation. Although the library does not cover the entire chemical space of HS-tetrasaccharides, the binding data support a notion that changes in cell surface HS composition can modulate protein function.

Pharmacology of Heparin and Related Drugs

Heparin has been recognized as a valuable anticoagulant and antithrombotic for several decades and is still widely used in clinical practice for a variety of indications. The anticoagulant activity of heparin is mainly attributable to the action of a specific pentasaccharide sequence that acts in concert with antithrombin, a plasma coagulation factor inhibitor. This observation has led to the development of synthetic heparin mimetics for clinical use. However, it is increasingly recognized that heparin has many other pharmacological properties, including but not limited to antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimetastatic actions. Many of these activities are independent of its anticoagulant activity, although the mechanisms of these other activities are currently less well defined. Nonetheless, heparin is being exploited for clinical uses beyond anticoagulation and developed for a wide range of clinical disorders. This article provides a "state of the art" review of our current understanding of the pharmacology of heparin and related drugs and an overview of the status of development of such drugs.

Discovery of a heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfation specific peeling reaction

Heparan sulfate (HS) 3-O-sulfation determines the binding specificity of HS/heparin for antithrombin III and plays a key role in herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. However, the low natural abundance of HS 3-O-sulfation poses a serious challenge for functional studies other than the two cases mentioned above. By contrast, multiple distinct isoforms of 3-O-sulfotranserases exist in mammals (up to seven isoenzymes). Here we describe a novel peeling reaction that specifically degrades HS chains with 3-O-sulfated glucosamine at the reducing-end. When HS/heparin is enzymatically depolymerized for compositional analysis, 3-O-sulfated glucosamine at the reducing ends appears to be susceptible to degradation under mildly basic conditions. We propose a 3-O-desulfation initiated peeling reaction mechanism based on the intermediate and side-reaction products observed. Our discovery calls for the re-evaluation of the natural abundance and functions of HS 3-O-sulfation by taking into consideration the negative impact of this novel peeling reaction.

Chemoenzymatic synthesis and structural characterization of 2-O-sulfated glucuronic acid-containing heparan sulfate hexasaccharides

Heparan sulfate and heparin are highly sulfated polysaccharides that consist of a repeating disaccharide unit of glucosamine and glucuronic or iduronic acid. The 2-O-sulfated iduronic acid (IdoA2S) residue is commonly found in heparan sulfate and heparin; however, 2-O-sulfated glucuronic acid (GlcA2S) is a less abundant monosaccharide (∼<5% of total saccharides). Here, we report the synthesis of three GlcA2S-containing hexasaccharides using a chemoenzymatic approach. For comparison purposes, additional IdoA2S-containing hexasaccharides were synthesized. Nuclear magnetic resonance analyses were performed to obtain full chemical shift assignments for the GlcA2S- and IdoA2S-hexasaccharides. These data show that GlcA2S is a more structurally rigid saccharide residue than IdoA2S. The antithrombin (AT) binding affinities of a GlcA2S- and an IdoA2S-hexasaccharide were determined by affinity co-electrophoresis. In contrast to IdoA2S-hexasaccharides, the GlcA2S-hexasaccharide does not bind to AT, confirming that the presence of IdoA2S is critically important for the anticoagulant activity. The availability of pure synthetic GlcA2S-containing oligosaccharides will allow the investigation of the structure and activity relationships of individual sites in heparin or heparan sulfate.

A heparin-like compound isolated from a marine crab rich in glucuronic acid 2-O-sulfate presents low anticoagulant activity

A natural heparin-like compound isolated from the crab Goniopsis cruentata was structurally characterized and its anticoagulant and hemorrhagic activities were determined. Enzymatic and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that its structure is rich in disulfated disaccharides, possessing significant amounts of 2-O-sulfated-β-D-glucuronic acid units. Furthermore, low amounts of trisulfated disaccharide units containing 2-O-sulfated-α-L-iduronic acid were detected, when compared to mammalian heparin. In addition, this heparin-like structure showed negligible in vitro anticoagulant activity and low bleeding potency, facts that make it a suitable candidate for the development of structure-driven, heparin based therapeutic agents with fewer undesirable effects.

Heparan sulfate separation, sequencing, and isomeric differentiation: ion mobility spectrometry reveals specific iduronic and glucuronic acid-containing hexasaccharides

We describe the resolution of heparan sulfate (HS) isomers by chromatographic methods and their subsequent differentiation by mass spectrometry (MS), ion mobility, and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The two purified hexasaccharide isomers produced nearly identical MS spectra, quantitative disaccharide profiles, and partial enzymatic digestions. However, both tandem spectrometry (MS(2)) and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) indicated structural differences existed. All data suggested the distinction between the two hexasaccharides resided in their uronic acid stereochemistries. Glucuronic (GlcA) and iduronic acids (IdoA) were subsequently defined by (1)H NMR analysis completing the structural analysis and verifying the unique structures initially indicated by MS(2) and IMS. Our results suggest that IMS may be a powerful tool in the rapid differentiation of GlcA and IdoA containing isomers in the absence of prior structural knowledge.

Tetrasulfated disaccharide unit in heparan sulfate: enzymatic formation and tissue distribution

We previously reported that the heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase (3OST)-5 produces a novel component of heparan sulfate, i.e. the tetrasulfated disaccharide (Di-tetraS) unit ( Mochizuki, H., Yoshida, K., Gotoh, M., Sugioka, S., Kikuchi, N., Kwon, Y.-D., Tawada, A., Maeyama, K., Inaba, N., Hiruma, T., Kimata, K., and Narimatsu, H. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 26780-26787 ). In the present study, we investigated the potential of other 3OST isoforms to produce Di-tetraS with heparan sulfate and heparin as acceptor substrates. 3OST-2, 3OST-3, and 3OST-4 produce Di-tetraS units as a major product from both substrates. 3OST-5 showed the same specificity for heparin, but the production from heparan sulfate was very low. Di-tetraS production by 3OST-1 was negligible. We then investigated the presence of Di-tetraS units in heparan sulfates from various rat tissues. Di-tetraS was detected in all of the tissues analyzed. Liver and spleen contain relatively high levels of Di-tetraS, 1.6 and 0.95%, respectively. However, the content of this unit in heart, large intestine, ileum, and lung is low, less than 0.2%. We further determined the expression levels of 3OST transcripts by quantitative real time PCR. The 3OST-3 transcripts are highly expressed in spleen and liver. The 3OST-2 and -4 are specifically expressed in brain. These results indicate that the Di-tetraS unit is widely distributed throughout the body as a rare and unique component of heparan sulfate and is synthesized by tissue-specific 3OST isoforms specific for Di-tetraS production.

On-line NMR detection of microgram quantities of heparin-derived oligosaccharides and their structure elucidation by microcoil NMR

The isolation and purification of sufficient quantities of heparin-derived oligosaccharides for characterization by NMR is a tedious and time-consuming process. In addition, the structural complexity and microheterogeneity of heparin makes its characterization a challenging task. The improved mass-sensitivity of microcoil NMR probe technology makes this technique well suited for characterization of mass-limited heparin-derived oligosaccharides. Although microcoil probes have poorer concentration sensitivity than conventional NMR probes, this limitation can be overcome by coupling capillary isotachophoresis (cITP) with on-line microcoil NMR detection (cITP-NMR). Strategies to improve the sensitivity of on-line NMR detection through changes in probe design and in the cITP-NMR experimental protocol are discussed. These improvements in sensitivity allow acquisition of cITP-NMR survey spectra facilitating tentative identification of unknown oligosaccharides. Complete structure elucidation for microgram quantities of the purified material can be carried out through acquisition of 2D NMR spectra using a CapNMR microcoil probe.

The heparin/heparan sulfate sequence that interacts with cyclophilin B contains a 3-O-sulfated N-unsubstituted glucosamine residue

Many of the biological functions of heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans can be attributed to specialized structures within HS moieties, which are thought to modulate binding and function of various effector proteins. Cyclophilin B (CyPB), which was initially identified as a cyclosporin A-binding protein, triggers migration and integrin-mediated adhesion of peripheral blood T lymphocytes by a mechanism dependent on interaction with cell surface HS. Here we determined the structural features of HS that are responsible for the specific binding of CyPB. In addition to the involvement of 2-O,6-O, and N-sulfate groups, we also demonstrated that binding of CyPB was dependent on the presence of N-unsubstituted glucosamine residues (GlcNH2), which have been reported to be precursors for sulfation by 3-O-sulfotransferases-3 (3-OST-3). Interestingly, 3-OST-3B isoform was found to be the main 3-OST isoenzyme expressed in peripheral blood T lymphocytes and Jurkat T cells. Moreover, down-regulation of the expression of 3-OST-3 by RNA interference potently reduced CyPB binding and consequent activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Altogether, our results strongly support the hypothesis that 3-O-sulfation of GlcNH2 residues could be a key modification that provides specialized HS structures for CyPB binding to responsive cells. Given that 3-O-sulfation of GlcNH2-containing HS by 3-OST-3 also provides binding sites for glycoprotein gD of herpes simplex virus type I, these findings suggest an intriguing structural linkage between the HS sequences involved in CyPB binding and viral infection.

Effects of sulfate position on heparin octasaccharide binding to CCL2 examined by tandem mass spectrometry

Chemokine-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) interactions have been shown to be essential for in vivo chemokine signaling, which functions in such diverse processes as inflammation, development, and cancer metastasis. Despite the importance of these interactions, the saccharide sequence dependency of chemokine-GAG interactions is poorly understood. In a recent study, FT-ICR mass spectrometry was used to show that the chemokine CCL2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) binds only to the 11- and 12-sulfated components of a heparin octasaccharide library. Although the exact structure of the fully sulfated, 12-sulfated octasaccharide is known, the 11-sulfated species could have a number of sulfated disaccharide sequences. In the current study, the composition of the 11-sulfated heparin octasaccharides, as well as the composition of CCL2 affinity purified 11-sulfated heparin octasaccharides, were examined by tandem MS. Of the three possible singly desulfated disaccharides, one species, III-S, is enriched by CCL2 affinity purification, indicating that the 11-sulfated heparin octasaccharides containing this disaccharide are preferentially bound to CCL2. These data suggest that 2-O and N sulfation of heparin may be of greater importance to CCL2-heparin binding than 6-O sulfation.

Structural Basis of Citrate-dependent and Heparan Sulfate-mediated Cell Surface Retention of Cobra Cardiotoxin A3

Anionic citrate is a major component of venom, but the role of venom citrate in toxicity other than its inhibitory effect on the cation-dependent action of venom toxins is poorly understood. By immobilizing Chinese hamster ovary cells in microcapillary tubes and heparin on sensor chips, we demonstrated that heparan sulfate-mediated cell retention of the major cardiotoxin (CTX) from the Taiwan cobra, CTX A3, near membrane surfaces is citrate-dependent. X-ray determination of a CTX A3-heparin hexasaccharide complex structure at 2.4 A resolution revealed a molecular mechanism for toxin retention in which heparin-induced conformational changes of CTX A3 lead to citrate-mediated dimerization. A citrate ion bound to Lys-23 and Lys-31 near the tip of loop II stabilizes hydrophobic contact of the CTX A3 homodimer at the functionally important loop I and II regions. Additionally, the heparin hexasaccharide interacts with five CTX A3 molecules in the crystal structure, providing another mechanism whereby the toxin establishes a complex network of interactions that result in a strong interaction with cell surfaces presenting heparan sulfate. Our results suggest a novel role for venom citrate in biological activity and reveal a structural model that explains cell retention of cobra CTX A3 through heparan sulfate-CTX interactions.

Complex glycosaminoglycans: profiling substitution patterns by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Biological and pharmacological interactions of heparin and structurally related glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as heparan sulfate (HS) involve complex sequences of variously sulfated uronic acid and aminosugar residues. Due to their structural microheterogeneity, these sequences are usually characterized in statistical terms, by high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of fragments obtained by enzymatic or chemical degradation. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is also currently used for structural characterization of GAGs. However, the use of monodimensional NMR analysis of complex GAGs is often limited by severe signal overlap that does not allow reliable quantitative measurements. Using magnetically equivalent signals, the higher resolution achieved by two-dimensional NMR methods could be also exploited for quantitative applications. In this work, heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectroscopy has been evaluated to determine variously substituted monosaccharide components of HS and HS mimics obtained by chemical modification of the Escherichia coli K5 polysaccharide (K5-PS) structurally related to the common biosynthetic precursor of heparin and HS. Heparin was used as a model for assessing the influence of 1H-13C spin-spin couplings on "volumes" of the corresponding signals. For major signals, the HSQC approach permitted quantification of additional structural features both in heparins and in a typical HS. The method was applied to profile the substitution patterns of K5-PS derivatives involving different degrees of N,O-sulfation and N-acetylation, including O-sulfated heparosans bearing free amino groups.

NMR characterization of the interaction between the C-terminal domain of interferon-gamma and heparin-derived oligosaccharides

Interferons are cytokines that play a complex role in the resistance of mammalian hosts to pathogens. IFNgamma (interferon-gamma) is secreted by activated T-cells and natural killer cells. IFNgamma is involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including antiviral activity, immune response, cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as the stimulation and repression of a variety of genes. IFNgamma activity is modulated by the binding of its C-terminal domain to HS (heparan sulphate), a glycosaminoglycan found in the extracellular matrix and at the cell surface. In the present study, we analysed the interaction of isolated heparin-derived oligosaccharides with the C-terminal peptide of IFNgamma by NMR, in aqueous solution. We observed marked changes in the chemical shifts of both peptide and oligosaccharide compared with the free state. Our results provide evidence of a binding through electrostatic interactions between the charged side chains of the protein and the sulphate groups of heparin that does not induce specific conformation of the C-terminal part of IFNgamma. Our data also indicate that an oligosaccharide size of at least eight residues displays the most efficient binding.

Solution Structure and Heparin Interaction of Human Hepatoma-derived Growth Factor

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF)-related proteins (HRPs) comprise a new protein family that has been implicated in nephrogenesis, tumorigenesis, vascular development, cell proliferation, and transcriptional activation. All HRPs share a conserved N-terminal homologous to the amino terminus of HDGF (HATH) domain, but vary significantly in the C-terminal region. Here, we show that in solution the N and C termini of human HDGF form two structurally independent domains. The 100 amino acid residue N-terminal HATH domain is well-structured while the 140 amino acid residue C-terminal domain is disordered. We determined the solution structure of the HATH domain by NMR. The core structure of the HATH domain is a five-stranded beta-barrel followed by two alpha-helices, similar to those of PWWP domains of known structures. Surface plasmon resonance results showed that the HATH domain is primarily responsible for heparin binding. On the basis of the chemical shift perturbation induced by binding of heparin-derived hexasaccharide, we identified a prominent, highly positively charged region as the putative heparin-binding site. Sequence comparison and structure prediction suggest that all HRPs are likely to adapt a similar modular structure.

Chromatographic analysis and sequencing approach of heparin oligosaccharides using cetyltrimethylammonium dynamically coated stationary phases

C(18) and C(8) bonded stationary phases dynamically coated with cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA) and strong anion exchange (SAX) were developed to obtain separations of oligosaccharide mixtures resulting from chemical or enzymatic depolymerization of heparin. With this method, the retention of sulfated oligosaccharides is directly adjustable depending on the amount of CTA adsorbed into the column. Oligosaccharides containing up to 20 sulfates were separated with a resolving power superior to that of conventional SAX analysis. The stability of the column coating enables hundreds of injections. Using ammonium methane sulfonate aqueous solutions as ultraviolet transparent mobile phases, it was possible to set up double detection, including selective detection of acetylated oligosaccharides. Analytical gel permeation chromatography was directly coupled to CTA-SAX, obtaining a two-dimensional profile of analyzed oligosaccharidic mixtures. A sequencing method of heparin oligosaccharides using partial depolymerization by heparinases according to their size and sulfation pattern and digest analysis by CTA-SAX was developed. A direct application of this method to the analysis of oligosaccharide mixtures obtained by complete digestion of heparins by heparinases I, II, and III was done. It allowed a reliable quantification of heparin building blocks. We also focused our attention on di- and tetrasaccharidic species containing the 3-O-sulfated glucosamines taken as markers of the active sites for antithrombin III. The method was also applied to more complex mixtures resulting from porcine heparin partially depolymerized with heparinase I. The specificity of the reaction was studied up to decasaccharidic fractions.

Biosynthesis of 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate: unique substrate specificity of heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase isoform 5

Heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase transfers sulfate to the 3-OH position of a glucosamine to generate 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate (HS), which is a rare component in HS from natural sources. We previously reported that 3-O- sulfotransferase isoform 5 (3-OST-5) generates both an antithrombin-binding site to exhibit anticoagulant activity and a binding site for herpes simplex virus 1 glycoprotein D to serve as an entry receptor for herpes simplex virus. In this study, we characterize the substrate specificity of 3-OST-5 using the purified enzyme. The enzyme was expressed in insect cells using the baculovirus expression approach and was purified by using heparin-Sepharose and 3',5'-ADP- agarose chromatographies. As expected, the purified enzyme generates both an antithrombin binding site and a glycoprotein D binding site. We isolated IdoUA-AnMan3S and IdoUA-AnMan3S6S from nitrous acid-degraded 3-OST-5-modified HS (pH 1.5), suggesting that 3-OST-5 enzyme sulfates the glucosamine residue that is linked to an iduronic acid residue at the nonreducing end. We also isolated a disaccharide with a structure of DeltaUA2S-GlcNS3S and a tetrasaccharide with a structure of DeltaUA2S-GlcNS-IdoUA2S-GlcNH23S6S from heparin lyases-digested 3-OST-5-modified HS. Our results suggest that 3-OST-5 enzyme sulfates both N-sulfated glucosamine and N-unsubstituted glucosamine residues. Taken together, the results indicate that 3-OST-5 has broader substrate specificity than those of 3-OST-1 and 3-OST-3. The unique substrate specificity of 3-OST-5 serves as an additional tool to study the mechanism for the biosynthesis of biologically active HS.

Syndecan-1 and -4 synthesized simultaneously by mouse mammary gland epithelial cells bear heparan sulfate chains that are apparently structurally indistinguishable

Many of the biological functions attributed to cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans, including the Syndecan family, are elicited through the interaction of their HS chains with soluble extracellular molecules. Tightly controlled, cell-specific sulfation and epimerization of HS precursors endows these chains with highly sulfated, iduronate-rich regions, which are major determinants of cytokine and matrix-protein binding and which are interspersed by N-acetylated, poorly sulfated regions. Until this study, there have been no comprehensive structural comparisons made on HS chains decorating simultaneously expressed, but different, syndecan core proteins. In this paper we demonstrate that the HS chains on affinity-purified syndecan-1 and -4 from murine mammary gland cells are essentially identical by a number of parameters. Size determination, disaccharide analyses, enzymatic and chemical scission methods, and affinity co-electrophoresis all failed to reveal any significant differences in fine structure, domain organization, or ligand-binding properties of these HS species. These findings lead us to suggest that the imposition of the fine structure onto HS occurs independently of the core protein to which it is attached and that these core proteins, in addition to the HS chains, may play a pivotal role in the various biological functions ascribed to these macromolecules.

Structural recognition by recombinant human heparanase that plays critical roles in tumor metastasis. Hierarchical sulfate groups with different effects and the essential target disulfated trisaccharide sequence

Human heparanase is an endo-beta-d-glucuronidase that degrades heparan sulfate/heparin and has been implicated in a variety of biological processes, such as inflammation, tumor angiogenesis, and metastasis. Although the cloned enzyme has been demonstrated to have a critical role in tumor metastasis, the substrate specificity has been poorly understood. In the present study, the specificity of the purified recombinant human heparanase was investigated for the first time using a series of structurally defined oligosaccharides isolated from heparin/heparan sulfate. The best substrates were deltaHexUA(+/-2S)-GlcN(NS,6S)-GlcUA-GlcN(NS,6S)-GlcUA-GlcN(NS,6S) and deltaHexUA(2S)-GlcN(NS,6S)-GlcUA-GlcN(NS,6S) (where deltaHexUA, GlcN, GlcUA, NS, 2S, and 6S represent unsaturated hexuronic acid, d-glucosamine, d-glucuronic acid, 2-N-sulfate, 2-O-sulfate, and 6-O-disulfate, respectively). Based on the percentage conversion of the substrates to products under identical assay conditions, several aspects of the recognition structures were revealed. 1) The minimum recognition backbone is the trisaccharide GlcN-GlcUA-GlcN. 2) The target GlcUA residues are in the sulfated region. 3) The -GlcN(6S)-GlcUA-GlcN(NS)- sequence is essential but not sufficient as the cleavage site. 4) The IdoUA(2S) residue, located two saccharides away from the target GlcUA residue, claimed previously to be essential, is not indispensable. 5) The 3-O-sulfate group on the GlcN is dispensable and even has an inhibitory effect when located in a highly sulfated region. 6) Based on these and previous results, HexUA(2S)-GlcN(NS,6S)-IdoUA-GlcNAc(6S)-GlcUA-GlcN(NS,+/-6S)-IdoUA(2S)-GlcN(NS,6S) (where HexUA represents hexuronic acid) has been proposed as a probable physiological target octasaccharide sequence. These findings will aid establishing a quantitative assay method using the above tetrasaccharide and designing heparan sulfate-based specific inhibitors of the heparanase for new therapeutic strategies.

Characterization of a heparan sulfate octasaccharide that binds to herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein D

Herpes simplex virus type 1 utilizes cell surface heparan sulfate as receptors to infect target cells. The unique heparan sulfate saccharide sequence offers the binding site for viral envelope proteins and plays critical roles in assisting viral infections. A specific 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate is known to facilitate the entry of herpes simplex virus 1 into cells. The 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate is generated by the heparan sulfate d-glucosaminyl-3-O-sulfotransferase isoform 3 (3-OST-3), and it provides binding sites for viral glycoprotein D (gD). Here, we report the purification and structural characterization of an oligosaccharide that binds to gD. The isolated gD-binding site is an octasaccharide, and has a binding affinity to gD around 18 microm, as determined by affinity coelectrophoresis. The octasaccharide was prepared and purified from a heparan sulfate oligosaccharide library that was modified by purified 3-OST-3 enzyme. The molecular mass of the isolated octasaccharide was determined using both nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The results from the sequence analysis suggest that the structure of the octasaccharide is a heptasulfated octasaccharide. The proposed structure of the octasaccharide is DeltaUA-GlcNS-IdoUA2S-GlcNAc-UA2S-GlcNS-IdoUA2S-GlcNH(2)3S6S. Given that the binding of 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate to gD can mediate viral entry, our results provide structural information about heparan sulfate-assisted viral entry.

Not all perlecans are created equal: interactions with fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 and FGF receptors

Human basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) perlecan binds and activates fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 through its heparan sulfate (HS) chains. Here we show that perlecans immunopurified from three cellular sources possess different HS structures and subsequently different FGF-2 binding and activating capabilities. Perlecan isolated from human umbilical arterial endothelial cells (HUAEC) and a continuous endothelial cell line (C11 STH) bound similar amounts of FGF-2 either alone or complexed with FGFRalpha1-IIIc or FGFR3alpha-IIIc. Both perlecans stimulated the growth of BaF3 cell lines expressing FGFR1b/c; however, only HUAEC perlecan stimulated those cells expressing FGFR3c, suggesting that the source of perlecan confers FGF and FGFR binding specificity. Despite these differences in FGF-2 activation, the level of 2-O- and 6-O-sulfation was similar for both perlecans. Interestingly, perlecan isolated from a colon carcinoma cell line that was capable of binding FGF-2 was incapable of activating any BaF3 cell line unless the HS was removed from the protein core. The HS chains also exhibited greater bioactivity after digestion with heparinase III. Collectively, these data clearly demonstrate that the bioactivity of HS decorating a single PG is dependent on its cell source and that subtle changes in structure including secondary interactions have a profound effect on biological activity.

Heparin binding stabilizes the membrane-bound form of cobra cardiotoxin

It has been shown previously that the long chain fragments of heparin bind to the beta-strand cationic belt of the three-finger cobra cardiotoxin (or cytotoxin, CTX) and hence enhance its penetration into phospholipid monolayer under physiological ionic conditions. By taking lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) micelles as a membrane model, we have shown by (1)H NMR study that the binding of heparin-derived hexasaccharide (Hep-6) to CTX at the beta-strand region can induce conformational changes of CTX near its membrane binding loops and promote the binding activity of CTX toward LPC. The Fourier-transform infrared spectra and NMR nuclear Overhauser effect of Hep-6.CTX and CTX.LPC complex in aqueous buffer also supplemented the aforementioned observation. Thus, the detected conformational change may presumably be the result of structural coupling between the connecting loops and its beta-strands. This is the first documentation of results showing how the association of hydrophilic carbohydrate molecules with amphiphilic proteins can promote hydrophobic protein-lipid interaction via the stabilization of its membrane-bound form. A similar mechanism involving tripartite interactions of heparin, protein, and lipid molecules may be operative near the extracellular matrix of cell membranes.

Modulations of glypican-1 heparan sulfate structure by inhibition of endogenous polyamine synthesis. Mapping of spermine-binding sites and heparanase, heparin lyase, and nitric oxide/nitrite cleavage sites

Cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans facilitate uptake of growth-promoting polyamines (Belting, M., Persson, S., and Fransson, L.-A. (1999) Biochem. J. 338, 317-323; Belting, M., Borsig, L., Fuster, M. M., Brown, J. R., Persson, L., Fransson, L.-A., and Esko, J. D. (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., in press). Here, we have analyzed the effect of polyamine deprivation on the structure and polyamine affinity of the heparan sulfate chains in various glypican-1 glycoforms synthesized by a transformed cell line (ECV 304). Heparan sulfate chains of glypican-1 were either cleaved with heparanase at sites embracing the highly modified regions or with nitrite at N-unsubstituted glucosamine residues. The products were separated and further degraded by heparin lyase to identify sulfated iduronic acid. Polyamine affinity was assessed by chromatography on agarose substituted with the polyamine spermine. In heparan sulfate made by cells with undisturbed endogenous polyamine synthesis, free amino groups were restricted to the unmodified, unsulfated segments, especially near the core protein. Spermine high affinity binding sites were located to the modified and highly sulfated segments that were released by heparanase. In cells with up-regulated polyamine uptake, heparan sulfate contained an increased number of clustered N-unsubstituted glucosamines and sulfated iduronic acid residues. This resulted in a greater number of NO/nitrite-sensitive cleavage sites near the potential spermine-binding sites. Endogenous degradation by heparanase and NO-derived nitrite in polyamine-deprived cells generated a separate pool of heparan sulfate oligosaccharides with an exceptionally high affinity for spermine. Spermine uptake in polyamine-deprived cells was reduced when NO/nitrite-generated degradation of heparan sulfate was inhibited. The results suggest a functional interplay between glypican recycling, NO/nitrite-generated heparan sulfate degradation, and polyamine uptake.

6-O-sulfotransferase-1 represents a critical enzyme in the anticoagulant heparan sulfate biosynthetic pathway

Using recombinant retroviral transduction, we have introduced the heparin/heparan sulfate (HS) 3-O-sulfotransferase 1 (3-OST-1) gene into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Expression of 3-OST-1 confers upon CHO cells the ability to produce anticoagulantly active HS (HS(act)). To understand how 6-OST and other proteins regulate HS(act) biosynthesis, a CHO cell clone with three copies of 3-OST-1 was chemically mutagenized. Resulting mutants that make HS but are defective in generating HS(act) were single-cell-cloned. One cell mutant makes fewer 6-O-sulfated residues. Modification of HS chains from the mutant with pure 6-OST-1 and 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate increased HS(act) from 7% to 51%. Transfection of this mutant with 6-OST-1 created a CHO cell line that makes HS, 50% of which is HS(act). We discovered in this study that (i) 6-OST-1 is a limiting enzyme in the HS(act) biosynthetic pathway in vivo when the limiting nature of 3-OST-1 is removed; (ii) HS chains from the mutant cells serve as an excellent substrate for demonstrating that 6-OST-1 is the limiting factor for HS(act) generation in vitro; (iii) in contradiction to the literature, 6-OST-1 can add 6-O-sulfate to GlcNAc residues, especially the critical 6-O-sulfate in the antithrombin binding motif; (iv) both 3-O- and 6-O-sulfation can be the final step in HS(act) biosynthesis in contrast to prior publications that concluded 3-O-sulfation is the final step in HS(act) biosynthesis; (v), in the presence of HS interacting protein peptide, 3-O-sulfate-containing sugars can be degraded into disaccharides by heparitinase digestion as demonstrated by capillary high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

Chromatographic methods for product-profile analysis and isolation of oligosaccharides produced by heparinase-catalyzed depolymerization of heparin

A two-dimensional chromatography method for monitoring the formation of oligosaccharides produced by heparinase-catalyzed depolymerization of heparin is reported. In the first step of the two-dimensional method, the depolymerized heparin is size-fractionated by high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). The size-uniform fractions are then separated on the basis of charge by strong anion-exchange (SAX) HPLC on a high resolution CarboPac PA1 column. To demonstrate application of the two-dimensional product-profile analysis method, data are presented for the heparinase I-catalyzed depolymerization of heparin in the absence and presence of histamine, a ligand that binds site-specifically to heparin. Results from the two-dimensional analysis indicate that histamine alters the extent of depolymerization and the product-profiles for the tetrasaccharide and hexasaccharide fractions. The use of CarboPac PA1 columns for the semi-preparative scale separation of oligosaccharides in size-uniform fractions isolated from depolymerized heparin by low-pressure (gravity flow) GPC is also reported. The semi-preparative scale CarboPac PA1 column gives high resolution and excellent reproducibility after repeated use over an extended period of time, making it possible to reliably combine fractions from multiple separations. The oligosaccharides are eluted from the CarboPac PA1 column with a NaCl gradient at relatively low pH (3 or 7) where they are stable. An efficient two-step procedure is described for desalting oligosaccharides separated

Heparin is a unique marker of progenitors in the glial cell lineage

The oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte progenitor cells (precursors of oligodendrocytes and type-2 astrocytes) are an excellent system in which to study differentiation as they can be manipulated in vitro. Maintenance of oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte progenitor cells requires basic fibroblast growth factor, a growth factor whose action normally depends on a heparan sulfate coreceptor. Biochemical analysis revealed a most surprising result: that the oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte progenitors did not synthesize heparan sulfate, the near ubiquitous N-sulfated cell surface polysaccharide, but the chemically related heparin in a form that was almost completely N- and O-sulfated. The heparin was detected in the pericellular fraction of the cells and the culture medium. In contrast the differentiated glial subpopulations (oligodendrocytes and type-2 astrocytes) synthesized typical heparan sulfate but with distinctive fine structural features for each cell type. Thus heparin is a unique differentiation marker in the glial lineage. Previously heparin has been found only in a subset of mature mast cells called the connective tissue mast cells. Its presence within the developing nervous system on a precise population of progenitors may confer specific and essential recognition properties on those cells in relation to binding soluble growth and/or differentiation factors and the extracellular matrix.

Heparin binding to cobra basic phospholipase A2 depends on heparin chain length and amino acid specificity

Heparin is shown to bind specifically to the carboxy-terminal region of toxic type I phospholipase A2 from Naja nigricollis (N-PLA2) by competition assay using synthetic polypeptides and heparin affinity chromatography. The binding strength is seen to depend on heparin chain length and the presence of N-sulfate groups of heparin. It is observed that both electrostatic and non-electrostatic interactions are involved in the specific binding of heparin to the carboxy-terminus. When heparin's size is at least a decasaccharide, about two molecules of N-PLA2 bind to one molecule of heparin, as evidenced by the chemical estimate of protein to carbohydrate ratio in such N-PLA2/heparin complexes. Based on such a stoichiometric measurement and computer modeling of the N-PLA2/heparin complex, it is suggested that the binding sites of the two N-PLA2 molecules on one heparin molecule lie on the opposite sides of the heparin chain.

Heparin in inflammation: potential therapeutic applications beyond anticoagulation

In this chapter we have described anti-inflammatory functions of heparin distinct from its traditional anticoagulant activity. We have presented in vivo data showing heparin's beneficial effects in various preclinical models of inflammatory disease as well as discussed some clinical studies showing that the anti-inflammatory activities of heparin may translate into therapeutic uses. In vivo models that use low-anticoagulant heparins indicate that the anticoagulant activity can be distinguished from heparin's anti-inflammatory properties. In certain cases such as hypovolemic shock, the efficacy of a low-anticoagulant heparin derivative (GM1892) exceeds heparin. Data also suggest that nonconventional delivery of heparin, specifically via inhalation, has therapeutic potential in improving drug pharmacokinetics (as determined by measuring blood coagulation parameters) and in reducing the persistent concerns of systemic hemorrhagic complications. Results from larger clinical trials with heparin and LMW heparins are eagerly anticipated and will allow us to assess our predictions on the effectiveness of this drug class to treat a variety of human inflammatory diseases.

Microanalysis of glycosaminoglycan-derived oligosaccharides labeled with a fluorophore 2-aminobenzamide by high-performance liquid chromatography: application to disaccharide composition analysis and exosequencing of oligosaccharides

A series of disaccharides derived from chondroitin sulfate and heparin/heparan sulfate were derivatized at their reducing ends with a fluorophore 2-aminobenzamide to develop a sensitive microanalytical method for glycosaminoglycans. The resulting labeled compounds derived from chondroitin sulfate or heparin/heparan sulfate were well-separated and quantified by HPLC equipped with a fluorescence detector. The detection limit was a low picomole level. This method was applied to the analysis of the disaccharide composition of tetra- and hexasaccharides derived from chondroitin sulfate and heparin/heparan sulfate as well as these glycosaminoglycan polysaccharides. The method was also successfully applied to the exosequencing of chondrohexasaccharides, where the fluorophore-labeled oligosaccharides were degraded exolytically from the nonreducing ends using bacterial eliminases. The resultant labeled fragments were identified by HPLC.

Heparan sulfate oligosaccharides require 6-O-sulfation for promotion of basic fibroblast growth factor mitogenic activity

The interaction of heparan sulfate (HS) with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is influential in enabling the growth factor to bind to its cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor. In this study, we have investigated further the structural properties of HS required to mediate the activity of bFGF in a mitogenic assay. We have prepared a library of heparinase III-generated HS oligosaccharides fractionated by both their size (dp6-dp12) and sulfate content. The ability of these oligosaccharides to activate bFGF in a mitogenic assay was then correlated with their length and disaccharide composition. All octa- and hexasaccharide fractions tested were unable to activate bFGF. Dodeca- and decasaccharide fractions were found to contain both activating and non-activating oligosaccharides, and showed a clear correlation between total sulfate content and the level of activatory activity. Disaccharide analysis of a range of dodeca- and decasaccharide fractions showed that both activating and non-activating oligosaccharides were composed mainly of N-sulfated and IdoA(2S)-containing disaccharides. The only significant difference between activating and non-activating oligosaccharides was the content of 6-O-sulfated disaccharides, in particular the disaccharide IdoA(2S)alpha1,4GlcNSO3(6S). These results show that there is a requirement for 6-O-sulfation of N-sulfated glucosamine residues, in addition to the 2-O-sulfation of IdoA, for the promotion of bFGF mitogenic activity by naturally occurring HS oligosaccharides. Analysis of the structure-activity relationships in the dodecasaccharide fractions in particular, suggests that a minimum bFGF activation sequence exists which is dependent on the positioning of at least one 6-O-sulfate group.

Heparinase II from Flavobacterium heparinum. Role of cysteine in enzymatic activity as probed by chemical modification and site- directed mutagenesis

Heparinase II (no EC number) is one of three lyases isolated from Flavobacterium heparinum that degrade heparin-like complex polysaccharides. Heparinase II is unique among the heparinases in that it has broad substrate requirements and possesses the ability to degrade both heparin and heparan sulfate-like regions of glycosaminoglycans. This study set out to investigate the role of cysteines in heparinase II activity. Through a series of chemical modification experiments, it was found that one of the three cysteines in heparinase II is surface-accessible and possesses unusual chemical reactivity toward cysteine-specific chemical modifying reagents. Substrate protection experiments suggest that this surface-accessible cysteine is proximate to the active site, since addition of substrate shields the cysteine from modifying reagents. The cysteine, present in an ionic environment, was mapped by radiolabeling with N-[3H]ethylmaleimide and identified as cysteine 348. Site-directed mutagenesis of cysteine 348 to an alanine resulted in loss of activity toward heparin but not heparan sulfate, indicating that cysteine 348 is required for heparinase II activity toward heparin but is not essential for the breakdown of heparan sulfate. Furthermore, we show in this study that cysteine 164 and cysteine 189 are functionally unimportant for heparinase II.

Conversion of N-sulfated glucosamine to N-sulfated mannosamine in an unsaturated heparin disaccharide by non-enzymatic, base-catalyzed C-2 epimerization during enzymatic oligosaccharide preparation

A novel disaccharide was isolated beside the predominant trisulfated disaccharide, delta HexA(2-O-sulfate)(alpha 1-4)GlcN(2-N-,6-O-disulfate) (delta HexA and GlcN represent 4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enepyranosyluronic acid and D-glucosamine, respectively) after treatment of porcine intestinal heparin with Flavobacterium heparinase. It accounted for 18% of total disaccharides. The structure was characterized by secondary ion mass spectrometry, enzymatic digestions, amino sugar analysis, and 500 MHz one- and two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy as delta HexA(2-O-sulfate) (alpha 1-4)ManN(2-N-,6-O-disulfate), where ManN represents D-mannosamine. The C-2 epimerization from delta HexA(2-O-sulfate) (alpha 1-4)GlcN(2-N-,6-O-disulfate) to delta HexA(2-O-sulfate) (alpha 1-4)ManN(2-N-,6-O-disulfate) was also demonstrated to take place in vitro under very mild alkaline conditions. Hence, the latter compound is not a biosynthetic product, but is most likely an artifact generated by non-enzymatic, base-catalyzed C-2 epimerization during enzymatic preparation of heparin oligosaccharides. The present results warn that the formation of the C-2 epimerized compound has to be circumvented in the structural analysis of heparin/heparan sulfate.

Direct evidence for a predominantly exolytic processive mechanism for depolymerization of heparin-like glycosaminoglycans by heparinase I

Heparinase I from Flavobacterium heparinum has important uses for elucidating the complex sequence heterogeneity of heparin-like glycosaminoglycans (HLGAGs). Understanding the biological function of HLGAGs has been impaired by the limited methods for analysis of pure or mixed oligosaccharide fragments. Here, we use methodologies involving MS and capillary electrophoresis to investigate the sequence of events during heparinase I depolymerization of HLGAGs. In an initial step, heparinase I preferentially cleaves exolytically at the nonreducing terminal linkage of the HLGAG chain, although it also cleaves internal linkages at a detectable rate. In a second step, heparinase I has a strong preference for cleaving the same substrate molecule processively, i.e., to cleave the next site toward the reducing end of the HLGAG chain. Computer simulation showed that the experimental results presented here from analysis of oligosaccharide degradation were consistent with literature data for degradation of polymeric HLGAG by heparinase I. This study presents direct evidence for a predominantly exolytic and processive mechanism of depolymerization of HLGAG by heparinase I.

Mass spectrometric and capillary electrophoretic investigation of the enzymatic degradation of heparin-like glycosaminoglycans

Difficulties in determining composition and sequence of glycosaminoglycans, such as those related to heparin, have limited the investigation of these biologically important molecules. Here, we report methodology, based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization MS and capillary electrophoresis, to follow the time course of the enzymatic degradation of heparin-like glycosaminoglycans through the intermediate stages to the end products. MS allows the determination of the molecular weights of the sulfated carbohydrate intermediates and their approximate relative abundances at different time points of the experiment. Capillary electrophoresis subsequently is used to follow more accurately the abundance of the components and also to measure sulfated disaccharides for which MS is not well applicable. For those substrates that produce identical or isomeric intermediates, the reducing end of the carbohydrate chain was converted to the semicarbazone. This conversion increases the molecular weight of all products retaining the reducing terminus by the "mass tag" (in this case 56 Da) and thus distinguishes them from other products. A few picomoles of heparin-derived, sulfated hexa- to decasaccharides of known structure were subjected to heparinase I digestion and analyzed. The results indicate that the enzyme acts primarily exolytically and in a processive mode. The methodology described should be equally useful for other enzymes, including those modified by site-directed mutagenesis, and may lead to the development of an approach to the sequencing of complex glycosaminoglycans.

A major common trisulfated hexasaccharide core sequence, hexuronic acid(2-sulfate)-glucosamine(N-sulfate)-iduronic acid-N-acetylglucosamine-glucuronic acid-glucosamine(N-sulfate), isolated from the low sulfated irregular region of porcine intestinal heparin

The major structure of the low sulfated irregular region of porcine intestinal heparin was investigated by characterizing the hexasaccharide fraction prepared by extensive digestion of the highly sulfated region with Flavobacterium heparinase and subsequent size fractionation by gel chromatography. Structures of a tetrasaccharide, a pentasaccharide, and eight hexasaccharide components in this fraction, which accounted for approximately 19% (w/w) of the starting heparin representing the major oligosaccharide fraction derived from the irregular region, were determined by chemical and enzymatic analyses as well as 1H NMR spectroscopy. Five compounds including one penta- and four hexasaccharides had hitherto unreported structures. The structure of the pentasaccharide with a glucuronic acid at the reducing terminus was assumed to be derived from the reducing terminus of a heparin glycosaminoglycan chain and may represent the reducing terminus exposed by a tissue endo-beta-glucuronidase involved in the intracellular post-synthetic fragmentation of macromolecular heparin. Eight out of the 10 isolated oligosaccharides shared the trisaccharide sequence, -4IdceA alpha 1-4GlcNAc alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-, and its reverse sequence, -4GlcA beta 1-4GlcNAc alpha 1-4IdceA alpha 1-, was not found. The latter has not been reported to date for heparin/heparan sulfate, indicating the substrate specificity of the D-glucuronyl C-5 epimerase. Furthermore, seven hexasaccharides shared the common trisulfated hexasaccharide core sequence delta HexA(2-sulfate)alpha 1-4GlcN(N-sulfate)alpha 1-4IdceA alpha 1-4GlcNAc alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4GlcN(N-sulfate) which contained the above trisaccharide sequence (delta HexA, IdceA, GlcN, and GlcA represent 4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enepyranosyluronic acid, L-iduronic acid, D-glucosamine, and D-glucuronic acid, respectively) and additional sulfate groups. The specificity of the heparinase used for preparation of the oligosaccharides indicates the occurrence of the common pentasulfated octasaccharide core sequence, -4GlcN(N-sulfate)alpha 1-4HexA(2-sulfate)1-4GlcN(N-sulfate) alpha 1-4IdceA alpha 1-4GlcNAc alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4 GlcN(N-sulfate)alpha 1-4HexA(2-sulfate)1-, where the central hexasaccharide is flanked by GlcN(N-sulfate) and HexA(2-sulfate) on the nonreducing and reducing sides, respectively. The revealed common sequence constituted a low sulfated trisaccharide representing the irregular region sandwiched by highly sulfated regions and should reflect the control mechanism of heparin biosynthesis.

Heparan sulfate undergoes specific structural changes during the progression from human colon adenoma to carcinoma in vitro

We report a detailed analysis of heparan sulfate (HS) structure using a model of human colon carcinogenesis. Metabolically radiolabeled HS was isolated from adenoma and carcinoma cells. The chain length of HS was the same in both cell populations (Mr 20,000; 45-50 disaccharides), and the chains contained on average of two sulfated domains (S domains), identified by heparinase I scission. This enzyme produced fragments of approximate size 7 kDa, suggesting that the S domains were evenly spaced in the intact HS chain. The degree of polymer sulfation and the patterns of sulfation were strikingly different between the two HS species. When compared with adenoma HS, the iduronic acid 2-O-sulfate content of the carcinoma-derived material was reduced by 33%, and the overall level of N-sulfation was reduced by 20%. However, the level of 6-O-sulfation was increased by 24%, and this was almost entirely attributable to an enhanced level of N-sulfated glucosamine 6-O-sulfate, a species whose data implied was mainly located in the mixed sequences of alternating N-sulfated and N-acetylated disaccharides. The results indicate that in the transition to malignancy in human colon adenoma cells, the overall molecular organization of HS is preserved, but there are distinct modifications in both the S domains and their flanking mixed domains that may contribute to the aberrant behavior of the cancer cell.

High-field NMR as a technique for the determination of polysaccharide structures

NMR spectroscopy has played a developing role in the study of polysaccharide structures for over 30 years. Many new bacterial polysaccharide repeat unit structures have recently been published as a result of the application of modern NMR techniques. NMR can also be used to elucidate the structures of both regular and heterogeneous polysaccharides from fungal and plant sources, as well as complex glycosaminoglycans of animal origin. In addition to covalent structure, conformation and dynamics of polysaccharides are susceptible to NMR analysis, both in solution and in the solid state. Improvements in NMR technology with potential applications to polysaccharide studies hold promise for the future.

Structures of five sulfated hexasaccharides prepared from porcine intestinal heparin using bacterial heparinase. Structural variants with apparent biosynthetic precursor-product relationships for the antithrombin III-binding site

Porcine intestinal heparin was extensively digested with Flavobacterium heparinase and size-fractionated by gel chromatography. Subfractionation of the hexasaccharide fraction by anion exchange high pressure liquid chromatography yielded 10 fractions. Six contained oligosaccharides derived from the repeating disaccharide region, whereas four contained glycoserines from the glycosaminoglycan-protein linkage region. The latter structures were reported recently (Sugahara, K., Tsuda, H., Yoshida, K., Yamada, S., de Beer, T., and Vliegenthart, J.F.G. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 22914-22923). In this study, the structures of one tetra- and five hexasaccharides from the repeat region were determined by chemical and enzymatic analyses as well as 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy. The tetrasaccharide has the hexasulfated structure typical of heparin. The five hexa- or heptasulfated hexasaccharides share the common core pentasulfated structure delta HexA(2S) alpha 1-4GlcN-(NS, 6S) alpha 1-4IdoA alpha/GlcA beta 1-4GlcN(6S) alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4GlcN (NS) with one or two additional sulfate groups (delta HexA, GlcN, IdoA, and GlcA represent 4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enepyranosyluronic acid, D-glucosamine, L-iduronic acid, and D-glucuronic acid, whereas 2S, 6S and NS stand for 2-O-, 6-O-, and 2-N-sulfate, respectively). Three components have the following hitherto unreported structures: delta HexA(2S) alpha 1-4GlcN(NS, 6S) alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4GlcN(NS, 6S) alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4GlcN(NS,6S), delta HexA(2S) alpha 1-4GlcN(NS, 6S) alpha 1-4IdoA alpha 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4GlcN(NS, 3S), and delta HexA(2S) alpha 1-4GlcN-(NS,6S) alpha 1-4IdoA (2S) alpha 1-4GlcNAc(6S) alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4GlcN(NS, 6S). Two of the five hexasaccharides are structural variants derived from the antithrombin III-binding sites containing 3-O-sulfated GlcN at the reducing termini with or without a 6-O-sulfate group on the reducing N,3-disulfated GlcN residue. Another contains the structure identical to that of the above heptasulfated antithrombin III-binding site fragment but lacks the 3-O-sulfate group and therefore is a pro-form for the binding site. Another has an extra sulfate group on the internal IdoA residue of this pro-form and therefore can be considered to have diverged from the binding site in the biosynthetic pathway. Thus, the isolated hexasacharides in this study include the three overlapping pairs of structural variants with an apparent biosynthetic precursor-product relationship, which may reflect biosynthetic regulatory mechanisms of the binding site.

Structure determination of the octa- and decasaccharide sequences isolated from the carbohydrate-protein linkage region of porcine intestinal heparin

Previously we isolated a tetrasaccharide-serine and a hexasaccharide-serine from the carbohydrate-protein linkage region of porcine intestinal heparin after digestion with a mixture of Flavobacterium heparinase and heparitinases I and II (Sugahara, K., Yamada, S., Yoshida, K., de Waard, P., and Vliegenthart, J.F.G. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1528-1533). In this study four longer carbohydrate sequences (I-IV) attached to Ser or a dipeptide (Ser-Gly or Gly-Ser), which accounted for at least 18.2% of the total linkage region, were isolated from the same heparin preparation after digestion with heparinase only. IV was successfully isolated only after subsequent digestion with glycuronate-2-sulfatase. Their structures were determined by chemical and enzymatic analyses and 1H NMR spectroscopy and found to be the following octa- and decasaccharide sequences attached to Ser in a molar ratio of 1.1:2.3:1.0:1.3: delta HexA(2S)alpha 1-4GlcN(NS,6S)alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4GlcNAc alpha 1-4- GlcA beta 1-3Gal beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Xyl beta 1-O-Ser (I), delta HexA(2S)alpha 1- 4GlcN(NS,6S)alpha 1-4IdoA alpha 1-4GlcNAc alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1- 3Gal beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Xyl beta 1-O-Ser (II), delta HexA(2S)alpha 1- 4GlcN(NS,6S)alpha 1- 4IdoA alpha 1-4GlcNAc alpha 1-4GlcA beta 1-4GlcNAc-alpha 1- 4GlcA beta 1-3Gal beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Xyl beta 1-O-Ser (III), delta HexA alpha 1-4GlcN(NS,6S)alpha 1-4IdoA alpha 1-4GlcNAc(6S)alpha 1- 4GlcA beta 1-3Gal beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Xyl beta 1-O-Ser (IV) (delta HexA, GlcA, IdoA, and GlcN represent 4,5-unsaturated hexuronic acid, D-glucuronic acid, L-iduronic acid, and D-glucosamine, whereas 2S, 6S, and NS stand for 2-sulfate, 6-sulfate, and N-sulfate, respectively). I and II contained 1 mol of Gly in addition to Ser. The four structures indicate that sulfation in heparin chains takes place on the monosaccharide residues located in closer vicinity to the core protein than found for heparan sulfate chains and that there exist at least several heparin subclass chains with different linkage region structures. The significance of the isolated structures is discussed in relation to the biological functions and the biosynthetic mechanisms of heparin.