Heparins

Heparin Polymers, Oligosaccharides, Desulphated Polymers and Oligosaccharides

Heparin is a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan predominantly localized within mast cell granules. While its primary clinical application is as an anticoagulant, its interactions with a broad spectrum of effector proteins have highlighted its potential in diverse pathological and therapeutic contexts.

We provide high-purity, research-grade heparin, alongside a range of heparin polymers and oligosaccharides varying in molecular weight and sulfation patterns. These structurally distinct polymers facilitate the investigation of key biochemical and biophysical properties underpinning heparin’s biological activity.

Gallagher J. (2015) Fell-Muir Lecture: Heparan Sulphate and the art of cell regulation: a polymer chain conducts the protein orchestra. Int J Exp Pathol. 96:203-231.

Heparin and Low Molecular Weight Heparin

Heparin (cat # HEP001) has an average molecular weight of about 15 kDa it is highly polydisperse with a considerable spread of mol wts.

LMW Heparin is made via partial digestion of heparin with heparinase I, it is less polydisperse than the heparin it is made from (HEP001) with a molecular weight range of 1800 – 7500 daltons.

Selectively Desulfated Heparin Polymers

Our selectively desulfated heparin polymers are prepared using precise, site-selective chemical desulfation methods, targeting specific sulfate groups within the heparin structure. These modifications include:

N-desulfation (N-deS): Removal of sulfate groups from the amino position (N-sulfate) of glucosamine.

2-O-desulfation (2-O-deS): Selective removal of sulfate groups from the C2 position of uronic acid.

6-O-desulfation (6-O-deS): Removal of sulfate groups from the C6 position of glucosamine.

N-desulfated, re-N-acetylated heparin (N-deS/Ac): Following N-desulfation, the free amino group is acetylated, altering its biochemical properties.

These selectively modified heparin derivatives serve as essential tools for studying the impact of specific sulfate groups on heparin’s conformation, molecular interactions, and binding properties. They provide valuable insights into heparin-protein interactions, anticoagulant activity, and receptor binding dynamics, supporting research in glycoscience, drug development, and biomedical applications.

Heparin Oligosaccharides

Heparin oligosaccharides are generated through the controlled partial depolymerization of heparin via Heparinase I, followed by high-resolution gel filtration to separate the resulting oligosaccharides.

General Formula:

UA,2S – (GlcNS,6S – IdoA,2S)ₙ=1-9 – GlcNS,6S

(Note: The uronic acid at the non-reducing end of the chain contains a C4-C5 double bond due to the endolytic activity of Heparinase I.)

While the predominant disaccharide unit in heparin is the trisulfated GlcNS,6S – IdoA,2S (~65%), native heparin also comprises a heterogeneous mixture of di-, mono-, and non-sulfated saccharide units. As a result, each oligosaccharide size fraction, although largely homogeneous in molecular weight, exhibits variability in sulfation content and pattern.

In the product list below, dp (degree of polymerization) denotes the number of monosaccharide units. For example:

dp4 (HO04): Tetrasaccharide, dp6 (HO06): Hexasaccharide, dp8 (HO08): Octasaccharide....