Heparan Sulphate Oligosaccharides

The Heparan Sulphates (HS) are cell surface co-receptors for many growth factors and morphogenic proteins. They are characterised by a novel molecular design in which sulphated sugars are distributed in clusters along the polysaccharide chain separated by regions largely devoid of sulphate groups.

Variations in patterns and density of sulphation determine many of the key biological properties of the heparan sulphates ((Int J Exp Pathol (2015). 96:203-231). The enzyme Heparinase III degrades HS primarily in the non-sulphated, N-acetylated domains of the GAG chain. We have taken advantage of the substrate specificity of Hep III (Iduron Cat #  HEP-ENZ III) for the preparation of a series HS-oligos derived from the Hep III resistant sulphated regions of HS. These HS oligos. are heparin-like in structure but contain sulphation motifs and patterns that are not found in heparin and hold the key to understanding the unique biology of heparan sulphate.

Heparan Sulphate Oligosaccharides

These were prepared by controlled Hep III digestion of pig mucosal heparan sulphate (Iduron GAG-HS01). Separation of HS-oligosaccharides (HS-oligos) in the Hep III enzyme digest is achieved by high resolution preparative gel filtration of the enzyme digest. The separated HS-oligo fractions are then analysed for disaccharide composition and molecular size homogeneity on Superdex S75 hplc.

Although substantially homogeneous in molecular size HS-oligos in each size class contain sequences that vary in pattern and density of sulphation and there may be some limited overlap with oligos in adjacent size groups. 

HS-oligos. are available in the size range from dp4 to dp20 where dp is degree of polymerisation, a dp4 is a tetrasaccharide, dp6 a hexasaccharide, dp8 an octasaccharide etc. up to dp20.

High mol wt fractions (>6000 daltons) are also available; please inquire.

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