Analysis of the Structure of Heparin and Heparan Sulfate by High-Resolution Separation of Oligosaccharides

Heparin and heparan sulfate are mixtures of highly sulfated linear polysaccharides having a molecular weight (MW) ranging from 5000 to 40,000 with an MW avg of 10,000 to 25,000 (1). They are members of a family of molecules called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Both heparin and heparan sulfate are biosynthesized as a repeating →4)α- D -GlcNpAc(1→4)-β- D -GlcAp(1→ disaccharide sequence that undergoes partial N -deacetylation followed by N -sulfation of the newly exposed amino groups, partial C-5 epimerization of D -GlcAp to L -IdoAp and O -sulfation. A single disaccharide sequence, [→4)α- D -GlcNpS6S-(1→4)-a- L -IdoAp2S (1→], accounts for 80 to 90% of the heparin polymer. Minor sequences contain (β- D -GlcAp residues, reduced sulfation as well as N -acetylation. Heparan sulfate is structurally similar to heparin but has substantially lower sulfation. Heparan sulfate consists primarily of unsulfated disaccharide [→4)α- D -GlcNpS-(1→4)-β- D -GlcAp(1 →] and monosulfated disaccharides [→4)α- D -GlcNpS-(1→4)-β- D -GlcAp(1→] and [→4)α- D -GlcNpAc6S(1→4)-β- D -GlcAp(1 →]. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.