Depolymerization and Sequence Analysis

Combined incubation with the three heparin lyases eventually converts heparin and HS to disaccharides, the only sequence invariably resistant to cleavage being the linkage region. The HPLC profiles of the disaccharide pools thus obtained are conveniently used for compositional characterization of heparins and HS of different origin notably, however, information regarding GlcA/IdoA ratio is lost. 

Disaccharides Generated by Exhaustive Digestion of Heparin/HS with Heparin Lyase (A, Refs. 122—125) and with Nitrous Acid (B, Refs. 150, 155-157). (a) from IdoA-containing Sequences (b) from GlcA-containing Sequences. 

Identified Heparin/HS Fragments Generated by Depolymerization of Heparin/HS with Heparin Lyases (A) and with Nitrous Acid (B)  

Examples of Extended Saccharide Domains Recovered EoUowing Enzymatic or Chemical Depolymerization of HS 

N-Deacet lation WQ OQWQOQ O DOOOD DOQOA UKin rvUtn 0 0000000 0 OOO HNO2 pH 3.9 OOP Periodate/alkali D O D ODODO D O D OC e i-L J 0000 OOOO OOOO or Smith degradation 175-177 178 

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