Semin Thromb Hemost 2001; 27(5): 437-444
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-17954
Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Toward a Biotechnological Heparin through Combined Chemical and Enzymatic Modification of the Escherichia coli K5 Polysaccharide

Annamaria Naggi1 , Giangiacomo Torri1 , Benito Casu1 , Pasqua Oreste2 4 , Giorgio  Zoppetti2 4 , Jin-Ping  Li3 , Ulf Lindahl3
  • 1G. Ronzoni Institute for Chemical and Biochemical Research, Milan, Italy
  • 2Inalco, Montale, Pistoia, Italy
  • 3Department of Medical Biochemical Microbiology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
  • 4Drs. Oreste and Zoppetti: Glycores, 2000 Srl, Milan, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 October 2001 (online)

ABSTRACT

A process to generate glycosaminoglycans with heparin- and heparan sulfate-like sequences from the Escherichia coli K5 capsular polysaccharide is described. This polymer has the same structure as N-acetylheparosan, the precursor in heparin/ heparan sulfate biosynthesis. The process involves chemical N-deacetylation and N-sulfation, enzymatic conversion of up to 60% of the D-glucuronic acid to L-iduronic acid residues, and chemical O-sulfation. Because direct sulfation afforded unwanted 3-O-sulfated (instead of 2-O-sulfated) iduronic acid residues, a strategy involving graded solvolytic desulfation of chemically oversulfated C5-epimerized sulfaminoheparosans was assessed using persulfated heparin and heparan sulfate as model compounds. The O-desulfation process was shown to increase the anti-factor Xa activity of oversulfated heparin.

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1 *These studies will be reported in more detail elsewhere (Naggi et al, unpublished data)

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