Analysis by i.r. spectroscopy of natural and chemically modified heparins suggests that the N-sulphonate group of these polymers may vibrationally absorb radiation at two distinctly different frequencies. This property may reflect the existence of different conformational states important in the biological activities of the polymers. Examination of carboxylate- and N-acetyl-group absorbances of these polymers accords with the possibility that one of these polymer conformational states involves interaction between juxtaposed N-sulphonate and carboxylate groups. In heparin bearing large quantities of artificially introduced N-acetyl groups, an interaction between carboxylate and N-acetyl groups may also occur.

Heparin↗

PubMed1989

Inhibition by glycosaminoglycans of CaCO3 (calcite) crystallization.

Of a range of glycosaminoglycans, heparin and heparan sulphate were the most effective inhibitors in vitro of CaCO3 (calcite) crystallization as assayed by conductimetric measurements. The possible role of such glycosaminoglycans in modulating calcium-salt crystallizations in vivo is discussed.

Calcium Carbonate↗

PubMed1989

A comparison of the antioxidant requirements of proteins with those of synthetic polymers suggests an antioxidant function for clusters of aromatic and bivalent sulphur-containing amino acid residues.

Many proteins which function in extracellular environments potentially rich in oxygen-derived free radicals contain clustered tyrosine and cysteine residues which, by analogy with the chemistry of antioxidants used with synthetic polymers, may provide an appreciable antioxidant and redox stabilization activity. Such proteins may function as antioxidants, and as ligand binding sites for free radicals and other active molecules employed in normal biochemical processes.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed1988

Effect of the mast cell activator compound 48/80 and heparin on angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane.

The mast cell activator, compound 48/80, produced increased vascularity and tortuosity of blood vessels in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of ten day old embryonic chicks. Application of 400 micrograms/ml resulted in rapid mast cell granule release, observed after 1 min at both light and electron microscopy level, and resulted in the greatest increase (69%) in CAM mesenchymal vessels. The half-maximal dose was 38.6 micrograms/ml, computer-derived from the dose-response data. It is apparent that a single episode of mast cell degranulation is sufficient to induce vessel growth over several days, but the fact that a sublethal dose is required for maximum stimulation casts doubt on its biological significance. This pattern of response resembles that previously found by us with histamine and has not been found so far with commercial heparins and chemically modified derivatives. In contrast, a sublethal dose of porcine intestinal sodium heparin results in an antiangiogenic effect on the ectodermal capillary plexus.

Allantois↗

PubMed1987

Flavobacterium heparinum sulphamidase for D-glucosamine sulphamate. Purification and characterisation.

A novel assay has been developed for 2-deoxy-2-sulphamido-D-glucose (GlcNS) sulphamidase from Flavobacterium heparinum. This has enabled the 1930-fold purification of the enzyme from a soluble fraction of bacterial homogenate. From SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the enzyme was shown to have a relative molecular mass of 81,500. Ca2+ was essential for enzyme activity. Inorganic phosphate and sulphate inhibited activity by 28% and 29% respectively at 5 mmol dm-3. The purified sulphamidase had a pH optimum of 7.0 and a Km of 8.32 mumol dm-3 for GlcNS. The degradation of 2-deoxy-2-sulphamido-6-O-sulpho-D-glucose (GlcNS-6S) was also re-investigated. The two sulphate groups were hydrolysed sequentially in a single non-bifurcate manner, in contrast to previous reports [Dietrich, C.P., Silva, M.E. and Michelacci, Y.M. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 6408-6415].

Anions↗

PubMed1987

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.

Cations↗

PubMed1987

A model of two conformational forms of heparins/heparans suggested by infrared spectroscopy.

Results of infrared spectroscopy of complexes between cations and heparins, heparans and chemically-modified polymers suggest the existence of two conformational forms of heparins/heparans, differing in their modes of interaction with cations. Functions of heparans at normal and cancer cell surfaces are discussed in the light of this model.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

PubMed1987

Pericellular heparans may contribute to the protection of cells from free radicals.

The variation of fine structure and quantity of heparans at cell surfaces could endow cells of different tissues, and in different growth states, with varying degrees of competence in reacting to extracellular free radicals known to be associated with neoplasia.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Binding of zinc ions to heparin. Analysis by equilibrium dialysis suggests the occurrence of two, entropy-driven, processes.

Analysis by equilibrium dialysis of the binding of Zn2+ to heparin suggested that two interactions, one of high affinity and one of low affinity, occur. The stoichiometry of binding in both cases is about one Zn2+ ion bound per average heparin disaccharide unit. Both types of interaction appear to be entropy-driven.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1985

Flavobacterium heparinum 6-O-sulphatase for N-substituted glucosamine 6-O-sulphate.

A specific glyco-6-O-sulphatase has been purified to homogeneity from Flavobacterium heparinum. The enzyme hydrolyses the 6-O-sulphates of 2-deoxy-2-sulphamido-6-O-sulpho-D-glucose (GlcNS-6S), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-6-O-sulpho-D-glucose (GlcNAc-6S) and 2-amino-2-deoxy-6-O-sulphato-D-glucose (GlcN-6S). The activity was purified 2100-fold by successive chromatography on CM-Sepharose CL-6B, Sepharose CL-4B, hydroxyapatite and blue-Sepharose CL-6B. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a protein of relative molecular mass 64000. Four novel assays were developed using 35S-labelled and 14C-labelled monosaccharides. The purified enzyme was free of all other known heparin-degrading enzymes. In particular this was the first resolution of the 6-O-sulphatase from the sulphamidase. Optimal activity was at pH 7.5. Enzyme activity was virtually unaffected by Na+ and K+ ions. Enhancements of activity of 12% and 30% were effected by Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions respectively. Inorganic phosphate and sulphate (both 0.005 mol dm-3) inhibited activity by 48% and 50% respectively. The Km value for the free amino substrate GlcN-6S was 1.35 mmol dm-3. In contrast the Km values for the GlcNAc-6S and GlcNS-6S were 54 mumol dm-3 and 16 mumol dm-3 respectively.

Flavobacterium↗

PubMed1985

Flavobacterium heparinum 3-O-sulphatase for N-substituted glucosamine 3-O-sulphate.

A novel bacterial sulphatase has been discovered in an extract of Flavobacterium heparinum. The enzyme hydrolyses the 3-O-sulphate from 2-deoxy-2-sulphamido-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose. The activity was purified 10 800-fold by chromatography successively on CM-Sepharose CL-6B, hydroxyapatite, taurine-Sepharose CL-4B and CM-Sepharose CL-6B. Sodium dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed the enzyme to be homogeneous and of relative molecular mass 56 000. Two novel assays were developed using 2-[14C]acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose and 2-deoxy-2-sulphamido-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose as respective substrates. The purified 3-O-sulphatase was shown to be free of all other known heparin-degrading enzymes. Optimal activity was at pH 7.5 for the disulphated substrate and pH 8.0 for the N-acetylated substrate. Enzyme activity was virtually unaffected by Na+, K+ or Mg2+ ions. A 1.2-fold enhancement of activity was effected by 0.002 mol dm-3 Ca2+. Inorganic phosphate and sulphate inhibited 3-O-sulphatase activity. The Km value of the N-acetylated substrate was determined to be 42 mumol dm-3. No activity was detected with 2-amino-2-deoxy-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed1984

Flavobacterium heparinum 2-O-sulphatase for 2-O-sulphato-delta 4,5-glycuronate-terminated oligosaccharides from heparin.

The glycosulphatase which hydrolyses the 2-O-sulphate of the disaccharide, 4-deoxy-2-O-sulphato-alpha-L-threohex-4-enopyranosyl uronic acid-(1----4)-2-deoxy-2-sulphamido-6-O-sulphato-D-glucose (delta UA-2S----GlcNS-6S), has been isolated from the soluble fraction of disrupted Flavobacterium heparinum. The activity was purified 3300-fold by chromatography on CM-Sepharose CL-6B, hydroxyapatite, taurine-Sepharose CL-4B and blue-Sepharose CL-6B. From sodium dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the enzyme was homogeneous and of 62000 Mr. A novel assay was devised using the de-N-sulphonated [1-3H]alditol, 4-deoxy-2-O-sulphato-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyl uronic acid-(1----4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-6-O-sulphato-D-[1-3H]glucitol (delta UA-2S----[1-3H]GlcNH2-ol-6S). This alditol was shown by 13C-NMR to be desulphated in the analogous manner to the original reducing trisulphated disaccharide. The purified 2-O-sulphatase was completely free of heparinase I, heparinase II (heparitinase), chondroitinases AC, chondroitinase B, the delta 4,5-glycuronidase for heparin delta 4,5-disaccharides, the 6-O-sulphatase and the 2-sulphamidase. It was optimally active over the range pH 5.5-6.5 and was practically unaffected by Na, K, Ca or Mg ions. Inorganic phosphate inhibited the activity. The Km value for the alditol substrate was 1.22 mmol dm-3. Using 13C-NMR, the 2-O-sulphatase was found to hydrolyse the analogous esters of higher delta 4,5-oligosaccharides from heparin. This contrasts with the findings of other authors [Dietrich, C. P., Silva, M. E., and Michelacci, Y. M. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 6408-6415].

Chemical Phenomena↗