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Heparinase Mechanism

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Heparin/HS chains consist of repeating disaccharide units of [(GlcAβ(1-4)GlcNAcα(1-4)] with poly-disperse sulfation, N-acetylation and uronosyl epimerization. Repeating disaccharide residues varying between one to three sulfate groups exist in heparin/HS, which results in domains of high and low sulfation.

  • Heparin lyase enzymes, also called Heparinases, are enzymes that cleave the glycosidic linkage between hexosamines and uronic acids and are known to cleave Heparin and HS chains selectively, via an elimination mechanism.
  • Heparinase enzymes create a double bond on the non-reducing end of the uronic acid that absorbs at 232 nm and can be used for the detection of oligosaccharide and disaccharide products.
  • Heparinase enzymes include: Heparinase I (NEB #P0735), Heparinase II (NEB #P0736), and Heparinase III (NEB #P0737). Heparinase I cleaves highly sulfated heparin/HS chains, Heparinase III cleaves less sulfated HS chains, while Heparinase II cleaves domains of both high and low sulfation on both Heparin and HS.
  • Heparinase I, II and III used in combination can produce a near-complete depolymerization of Heparin/HS polysaccharide chains to disaccharides.

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Heparin HS degradation via Elimination Method

The eliminative mechanism of a Heparinase enzyme degrading a Heparin/HS polysaccharide into oligosaccharides. The double bond on the non-reducing end of the uronic acid absorbs at 232 nm.

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