Action pattern of polysaccharide lyases on glycosaminoglycans

The action pattern of polysaccharide lyases on glycosaminoglycansubstrates was examined using viscosimetric measurements andgradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Heparinlyase I (heparinase, EC 4.2.2.7 [EC] ) and heparin lyase II (no ECnumber) both acted on heparin in a random endolytic fashion.Heparin lyase II showed an ideal endolytic action pattern onheparan sulphate, while heparin lyase I decreased the molecularweight of heparan sulphate more slowly. Heparin lyase III (heparitinase,EC 4.2.2.8 [EC] ) acted endolytically only on heparan sulphate anddid not cleave heparin. Chondroitin ABC lyase (chondroitinaseABC, EC 4.2.2.4 [EC] ) from Proteus vulgaris acted endolytically onchondroitin-6-sulphate (chondroitin sulphate C) and dermatansulphate at nearly identical initial rates, but acted on chondroitin-4-sulphate(chondroitin sulphate A) at a reduced rate, decreasing its molecularweight much more slowly. Two chondroitin AC lyases (chondroitinaseAC, both EC 4.2.2.5 [EC] ) were examined towards chondroitin-4- and-6-sulphates. The exolytic action of chondroitin AC lyase Afrom Arthrobacter aurescens on both chondroitin-4- and -6-sulphateswas demonstrated viscosimetrically and confirmed using bothgradient PAGE and gel permeation chromatography. ChondroitinAC lyase F from Flavobacterium heparinum (Cytophagia heparinia)acted endolytically on the same substrates. Chondroitin B lyase(chondroitinase B, no EC number) from F.heparinum acted endolyticallyon dermatan sulphate giving a nearly identical action patternas observed for chondroitin ABC lyase acting on dermatan sulphate. action pattern chondroitin lyase glycosaminoglycan heparin lyase.     

Purification and characterization of heparin lyase I from Bacteroides stercoris HJ-15

Heparin lyase I was purified to homogeneity from Bacteroides stercoris HJ-15 isolated from human intestine, by a combination of DEAE-Sepharose, gel-filtration, hydroxyapatite, and CM-Sephadex C-50 column chromatography. This enzyme preferred heparin to heparan sulfate, but was inactive at cleaving acharan sulfate. The apparent molecular mass of heparin lyase I was estimated as 48,000 daltons by SDS-PAGE and its isoelectric point was determined as 9.0 by IEF. The purified enzyme required 500 mM NaCl in the reaction mixture for maximal activity and the optimal activity was obtained at pH 7.0 and 50 degrees C. It was rather stable within the range of 25 to 50 degrees C but lost activity rapidly above 50 degrees C. The enzyme was activated by Co(2+) or EDTA and stabilized by dithiothreitol. The kinetic constants, K(m) and V(max) for heparin were 1.3 10(-5) M and 8.8 micromol/min.mg. The purified heparin lyase I was an eliminase that acted best on porcine intestinal heparin, and to a lesser extent on porcine intestinal mucosa heparan sulfate. It was inactive in the cleavage of N-desulfated heparin and acharan sulfate. In conclusion, heparin lyase I from Bacteroides stercoris was specific to heparin rather than heparan sulfate and its biochemical properties showed a substrate specificity similar to that of Flavobacterial heparin lyase I.     

Examination of the substrate specificity of heparin and heparan sulfate lyases

We have examined the activities of different preparations of heparin and heparan sulfate lyases from Flavobacterium heparinum. The enzymes were incubated with oligosaccharides of known size and sequence and with complex polysaccharide substrates, and the resulting degradation products were analyzed by strong-anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography and by oligosaccharide mapping using gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Heparinase (EC 4.2.2.7) purified in our laboratory and a so-called Heparinase I (Hep I) from a commercial source yielded similar oligosaccharide maps with heparin substrates and displayed specificity for di- or trisulfated disaccharides of the structure----4)-alpha-D-GlcNp2S(6R)(1----4)-alpha-L-IdoAp2S( 1----(where R = O-sulfo or OH). Oligosaccharide mapping with two different commercial preparations of heparan sulfate lyase [heparitinase (EC 4.2.2.8)] indicated close similarities in their depolymerization of heparan sulfate. Furthermore, these enzymes only degraded defined oligosaccharides at hexosaminidic linkages with glucuronic acid:----4)-alpha-D-GlcNpR(1----4)-beta-D-GlcAp(1----(where R = N-acetamido or N-sulfo). The enzymes showed activity against solitary glucuronate-containing disaccharides in otherwise highly sulfated domains including the saccharide sequence that contains the antithrombin binding region in heparin. A different commercial enzyme, Heparinase II (Hep II), displayed a broad spectrum of activity against polysaccharide and oligosaccharide substrates, but mapping data indicated that it was a separate enzyme rather than a mixture of heparinase and heparitinase/Hep III. When used in conjunction with the described separation procedures, these enzymes are powerful reagents for the structural/sequence analysis of heparin and heparan sulfate.     

Purification and characterization of novel chondroitin ABC and AC lyases from Bacteroides stercoris HJ-15, a human intestinal anaerobic bacterium.

Two novel chondroitinases, chondroitin ABC lyase (EC 4.2.2.4) and chondroitin AC lyase (EC 4.2.2.5), have been purified from Bacteroides stercoris HJ-15, which was isolated from human intestinal bacteria with glycosaminoglycan degrading enzymes. Chondroitin ABC lyase was purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of QAE-cellulose, CM-Sephadex C-50, hydroxyapatite and Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography with a final specific activity of 45.7 micromol.min-1.mg-1. Chondroitin AC lyase was purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of QAE-cellulose, CM-Sephadex C-50, hydroxyapatite and phosphocellulose column chromatography with a final specific activity of 57.03 micromol.min-1.mg-1. Chondroitin ABC lyase is a single subunit of 116 kDa by SDS/PAGE and gel filtration. Chondroitin AC lyase is composed of two identical subunits of 84 kDa by SDS/PAGE and gel filtration. Chondroitin ABC and AC lyases showed optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 40 degrees C, and 5.7-6.0 and 45-50 degrees C, respectively. Both chondroitin lyases were potently inhibited by Cu2+, Zn2+, and p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid. The purified Bacteroidal chondroitin ABC lyase acted to the greatest extent on chondroitin sulfate A (chondroitin 4-sulfate), to a lesser extent on chondroitin sulfate B (dermatan sulfate) and C (chondroitin 6-sulfate). The purified chondroitin AC lyase acted to the greatest extent on chondroitin sulfate A, and to a lesser extent on chondroitin C and hyaluronic acid. They did not act on heparin and heparan sulfate. These findings suggest that the biochemical properties of these purified chondroitin lyases are different from those of the previously purified chondroitin lyases.     

Glycosaminoglycans of bovine aorta endothelial cells: identification and localization by use of a platelet factor 4-fluorescein probe

We utilized platelet factor 4 (PF4) conjugated to fluorescein to stain the proteoglycans of permeabilized fixed bovine aorta endothelial cells in monolayer culture. Treatment of the monolayers with chondroitin ABC lyase and/or a preparation from Flavobacterium heparinum was used to remove chondroitin sulfate and/or heparan sulfate before staining, with resultant separate identification and partial localization of these glycosaminoglycans. When PF4-fluorescein was utilized with untreated control monolayers, fairly uniform reticular, perinuclear, and cell surface fluorescence was seen. After treatment with chondroitin ABC lyase, fluorescence was retained only on the cell surface. In contrast, treatment with the F. heparinum preparation resulted in the loss of all cell surface fluorescence. Use of both glycosaminoglycan lyases together resulted in loss of essentially all the fluorescence. The cell surface heparan sulfate observed by fluorescence after removal of cell surface chondroitin sulfate appeared to be unevenly distributed, with a heavier accumulation at one pole of each cell. This technique offers a specific method for identification and partial localization of cell surface heparan sulfate.     

Purification and characterization of novel salt-active acharan sulfate lyase from Bacteroides stercoris HJ-15.

Salt-active acharan sulfate lyase (no EC number) has been purified from Bacteroides stercoris HJ-15, which was isolated from human intestinal bacteria with GAG degrading enzymes. The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of QAE-cellulose, diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose, CM-Sephadex C-50, HA ultrogel and phosphocellulose column chromatography with the final specific activity of 81.33 micro mol x min-1 x mg-1. The purified salt-active acharan sulfate lyase was activated to 5.3-fold by salts (KCl and NaCl). The molecular weight of salt-active acharan sulfate lyase was 94 kDa by SDS/PAGE and gel filtration. The salt-active acharan sulfate lyase showed optimal activity at pH 7.2 and 40 degrees C. Salt-active acharan sulfate lyase activity was potently inhibited by Cu2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+. This enzyme was inhibited by some agents, butanediol and p-chloromercuric sulfonic acid, which modify arginine and cysteine residues. The purified Bacteroidal salt-active acharan sulfate lyase acted to the greatest extent on acharan sulfate, to a lesser extent on heparan sulfate and heparin. The biochemical properties of the purified salt-active acharan sulfate lyase are different from those of the previously purified heparin lyases. However, these findings suggest that the purified salt-active acharan sulfate lyase may belong to heparin lyase II.     

Disaccharide compositional analysis of heparin and heparan sulfate using capillary zone electrophoresis.

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was used to separate eight commercial disaccharide standards of the structure delta UA2X(1----4)-D-GlcNY6X (where delta UA is 4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid, GlcN is 2-deoxy-2-aminoglucopyranose, S is sulfate, Ac is acetate, X may be S, and Y is S or Ac). These eight disaccharides had been prepared from heparin, heparan sulfate, and derivatized heparins. A similar CZE method was recently reported for the analysis of eight chondroitin and dermatan sulfate disaccharides (A. Al-Hakim and R.J. Linhardt, Anal. Biochem. 195, 68-73, 1991). Two of the standard heparin/heparan sulfate disaccharides, having an identical charge of -2, delta UA2S(1----4)-D-GlcNAc and delta UA(1----4)-D-GlcNS, were not fully resolved using standard sodium borate/boric acid buffer. This buffer had proven effective in separating chondroitin/dermatan sulfate disaccharides of identical charge. Resolution of these two heparin/heparan sulfate disaccharides could be improved by extending the capillary length, preparing the buffer in 2H2O, or eliminating boric acid. Baseline resolution was achieved in sodium dodecyl sulfate in the absence of buffer. The structure and purity of each of the eight new commercial heparin/heparan sulfate disaccharide standards were confirmed using fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry and high-field 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Heparin and heparan sulfate were then depolymerized using heparinase (EC 4.2.2.7), heparin lyase II (EC 4.2.2.-), heparinitase (EC 4.2.2.8), and a combination of all three enzymes. CZE analysis of the products formed provided a disaccharide composition of each glycosaminoglycan. As little as 50 fmol of disaccharide could be detected by ultraviolet absorbance.     

Analysis of glycosaminoglycan-derived oligosaccharides using reversed-phase ion-pairing and ion-exchange chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection

Oligosaccharides prepared from glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) including heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfates, dermatan sulfate, and keratan sulfate were analyzed using reverse-phase ion-pairing HPLC and ion-exchange HPLC with suppressed conductivity detection. The results were compared with those obtained by strong anion-exchange HPLC using uv detection. These oligosaccharides were first prepared by enzymatically depolymerizing the GAGs with enzymes including heparin lyase (EC 4.2.2.7), heparan sulfate lyase (EC 4.2.2.8), chondroitin ABC lyase (EC 4.2.2.4), and keratan sulfate hydrolase (EC 3.2.1.103). Analysis was then performed without derivitization under isocratic conditions with a limit of sensitivity in the picomole range. Preliminary studies suggest that this approach may be particularly useful in examining oligosaccharides having no uv chromophore such as those prepared from keratan sulfate.     

Preparation of the methyl ester of hyaluronan and its enzymatic degradation

A methyl ester of hyaluronan in which the carboxyl groups were fully esterified was prepared using trimethylsilyl diazomethane. This derivative, while not depolymerized by hyaluronan lyases or hyaluronan hydrolases, was a substrate for both chondroitin ACI lyase (EC 4.2.2.5) from Flavobacterium heparinum and chondroitin ACII lyase (EC 4.2.2.5) from Arthrobacter aurescens. The major product isolated in these depolymerization reactions was methyl alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enepyranosyluronate-(1-->3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha,beta-D-glucopyranoside as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and MALDITOF mass spectrometry.     

Crystal structure of chondroitinase B from Flavobacterium heparinum and its complex with a disaccharide product at 1.7 A resolution

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a family of acidic heteropolysaccharides, including such molecules as chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparin and keratan sulfate. Cleavage of the O-glycosidic bond within GAGs can be accomplished by hydrolases as well as lyases, yielding disaccharide and oligosaccharide products. We have determined the crystal structure of chondroitinase B, a glycosaminoglycan lyase from Flavobacterium heparinum, as well as its complex with a dermatan sulfate disaccharide product, both at 1.7 A resolution. Chondroitinase B adopts the right-handed parallel beta-helix fold, found originally in pectate lyase and subsequently in several polysaccharide lyases and hydrolases. Sequence homology between chondroitinase B and a mannuronate lyase from Pseudomonas sp. suggests this protein also adopts the beta-helix fold. Binding of the disaccharide product occurs within a positively charged cleft formed by loops extending from the surface of the beta-helix. Amino acid residues responsible for recognition of the disaccharide, as well as potential catalytic residues, have been identified. Two arginine residues, Arg318 and Arg364, are found to interact with the sulfate group attached to O-4 of N-acetylgalactosamine. Cleavage of dermatan sulfate likely occurs at the reducing end of the disaccharide, with Glu333 possibly acting as the general base.     

Characterization of heparan sulfate from the unossified antler of Cervus elaphus

The antler is the most rapidly growing tissue in the animal kingdom. According to previous reports, antler glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) consist of all kinds GAGs except for heparan sulfate (HS). Chondroitin sulfate is the major antler GAG component comprising 88% of the total uronic acid content. In the current study, we have isolated HS from antler for the first time and characterized it based on both NMR spectroscopy and disaccharide composition analysis. Antler GAGs were isolated by protease treatment and followed by cetylpyridinium chloride precipitation. The sensitivity of antler GAGs to heparin lyase III showed that this sample contained heparan sulfate. After incubation of antler GAGs with chondroitin lyase ABC, the HS-containing fraction was recovered by ethanol precipitation. The composition of HS disaccharides in this fraction was determined by its complete depolymerization with a mixture of heparin lyase I, II, and III and analysis of the resulting disaccharides by the reversed-phase (RP) ion pairing-HPLC, monitored by the fluorescence detection using 2-cyanoacetamide as a post-column labeling reagent. Eight unsaturated disaccharides (DeltaUA-GlcNAc, DeltaUA-GlcNS, DeltaUA-GlcNAc6S, DeltaUA2S-GlcNAc, DeltaUA-GlcNS6S, DeltaUA2S-GlcNS, DeltaUA2S-GlcNAc6S, DeltaUA2S-GlcNS6S) were produced from antler HS by digestion with the mixture of heparin lyases. The total content of 2-O-sulfo disaccharide units in antler HS was higher than that of heparan sulfate from most other animal sources.     

Relative susceptibilities of the glucosamine-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine-glucuronic acid linkages to heparin lyase III

Heparin lyases are valuable tools for generating oligosaccharide fragments and in sequence determination of heparan sulfate (HS). Heparin lyase III is known to cleave the linkages between N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) or N-sulfated glucosamine (GlcNS) and glucuronic acid (GlcA) as the primary sites and the linkages between GlcNAc, GlcNAc(6S), or GlcNS and iduronic acid as secondary sites. N-Unsubstituted glucosamine (GlcN) occurs as a minor component in HS, and it has been associated with various bioactivities. Here we investigate the specificity of heparin lyase III toward the GlcN-GlcA linkage using a recombinant enzyme of high purity and as substrates the partially de-N-acetylated polysaccharide of Escherichia coli K5 strain and derived hexasaccharides. The specificity of lyase III toward the GlcN-GlcA linkage is deduced by sequencing of the oligosaccharide products using electrospray mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation and MS/MS scanning. The results demonstrate that under controlled conditions for partial digestion, lyase III does not act at the GlcN-GlcA linkage, whereas GlcNAc-GlcA is cleaved. Even under forced conditions for exhaustive digestion, the GlcN-GlcA linkage is only partly cleaved. It is this property of lyase III that has enabled the isolation of a unique, nonsulfated antigenic determinant DeltaUA-GlcN-UA-GlcNAc from HS and from partially de-N-acetylated K5 polysaccharide. It was unexpected that pentasaccharide fragments were also detected among the digestion products of the K5 polysaccharide used. It is possible that these are products of an additional glycosidase activity of lyase III, although other mechanisms cannot be completely ruled out.     

Enzymatic preparation of heparin disaccharides as building blocks in glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

Pharmaceutical heparin and heparan sulfate, isolated from a side-stream of a commercial heparin manufacturing process, have been enzymatically depolymerzed with heparin lyases obtained from Flavobacterium heparinun. Heparin afforded a trisulfated disaccharide product that was recovered from the reaction mixture using gel permeation chromatography. Heparan sulfate afforded unsulfated disaccharide that was conveniently recovered from the product mixture by ion exchange chromatography. Both disaccharides were obtained in gram amounts at 90% or higher purity. Both enzymatically prepared disaccharides were chemically protected to prepare building blocks required for the future chemical synthesis of therapeutically valuable heparin oligosaccharides.     

Crystal structure of heparinase II from Pedobacter heparinus and its complex with a disaccharide product

Heparinase II depolymerizes heparin and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans, yielding unsaturated oligosaccharide products through an elimination degradation mechanism. This enzyme cleaves the oligosaccharide chain on the nonreducing end of either glucuronic or iduronic acid, sharing this characteristic with a chondroitin ABC lyase. We have determined the first structure of a heparin-degrading lyase, that of heparinase II from Pedobacter heparinus (formerly Flavobacterium heparinum), in a ligand-free state at 2.15 A resolution and in complex with a disaccharide product of heparin degradation at 2.30 A resolution. The protein is composed of three domains: an N-terminal alpha-helical domain, a central two-layered beta-sheet domain, and a C-terminal domain forming a two-layered beta-sheet. Heparinase II shows overall structural similarities to the polysaccharide lyase family 8 (PL8) enzymes chondroitin AC lyase and hyaluronate lyase. In contrast to PL8 enzymes, however, heparinase II forms stable dimers, with the two active sites formed independently within each monomer. The structure of the N-terminal domain of heparinase II is also similar to that of alginate lyases from the PL5 family. A Zn2+ ion is bound within the central domain and plays an essential structural role in the stabilization of a loop forming one wall of the substrate-binding site. The disaccharide binds in a long, deep canyon formed at the top of the N-terminal domain and by loops extending from the central domain. Based on structural comparison with the lyases from the PL5 and PL8 families having bound substrates or products, the disaccharide found in heparinase II occupies the "+1" and "+2" subsites. The structure of the enzyme-product complex, combined with data from previously characterized mutations, allows us to propose a putative chemical mechanism of heparin and heparan-sulfate degradation.     

Evidence that polygalacturonic acid may not be a major source of carbon and energy for some colonic Bacteroides species

Five Bacteroides species that are found in the human colon can utilize polygalacturonic acid (PGA) when they are grown in laboratory media: Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides fragilis subsp. a, and Bacteroides sp. strain 3452A (an unnamed DNA-DNA homology group). PGA-degrading enzymes from B. thetaiotaomicron have been isolated and characterized previously. To determine whether a PGA lyase activity in human feces could be attributed to any of these species, we first determined the properties of PGA lyases from the other four Bacteroides species. PGA lyases from all the Bacteroides species were soluble, cell associated, and inducible by PGA. All had similar pH optima (8.4 to 8.8) and similar molecular weights (50,000). All activities were enhanced by calcium. The PGA lyases from the five species differed with respect to isoelectric point: B. thetaiotaomicron (pI 7.5), B. vulgatus (pI 7.7), B. ovatus (pI 5.8, 7.2), B. fragilis subsp. a (pI 6.1), and Bacteroides sp. strain 3452A (pI 7.7). The PGA lyase activity in human feces resembled those of the Bacteroides PGA lyases in that it had a pH optimum of 8.4 to 8.8 and was enhanced by calcium. However, it differed from the Bacteroides PGA lyases both with respect to isoelectric point (pI 4.2 to 4.4) and molecular weight (100,000). On the basis of these findings, it appears that the PGA lyase activity in human feces is not produced by any of the Bacteroides species surveyed in this survey. Moreover, there was no detectable PGA lyase activity in feces that had the same properties as the Bacteroides enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evidence that polygalacturonic acid may not be a major source of carbon and energy for some colonic Bacteroides species.

Five Bacteroides species that are found in the human colon can utilize polygalacturonic acid (PGA) when they are grown in laboratory media: Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides fragilis subsp. a, and Bacteroides sp. strain 3452A (an unnamed DNA-DNA homology group). PGA-degrading enzymes from B. thetaiotaomicron have been isolated and characterized previously. To determine whether a PGA lyase activity in human feces could be attributed to any of these species, we first determined the properties of PGA lyases from the other four Bacteroides species. PGA lyases from all the Bacteroides species were soluble, cell associated, and inducible by PGA. All had similar pH optima (8.4 to 8.8) and similar molecular weights (50,000). All activities were enhanced by calcium. The PGA lyases from the five species differed with respect to isoelectric point: B. thetaiotaomicron (pI 7.5), B. vulgatus (pI 7.7), B. ovatus (pI 5.8, 7.2), B. fragilis subsp. a (pI 6.1), and Bacteroides sp. strain 3452A (pI 7.7). The PGA lyase activity in human feces resembled those of the Bacteroides PGA lyases in that it had a pH optimum of 8.4 to 8.8 and was enhanced by calcium. However, it differed from the Bacteroides PGA lyases both with respect to isoelectric point (pI 4.2 to 4.4) and molecular weight (100,000). On the basis of these findings, it appears that the PGA lyase activity in human feces is not produced by any of the Bacteroides species surveyed in this survey. Moreover, there was no detectable PGA lyase activity in feces that had the same properties as the Bacteroides enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Degradative removal of heparan sulfate from the surface of an ascites hepatoma, AH 66, by heparitinase

Heparitinase [EC 4.2.2.8, heparitin sulfate lyase] was prepared from an extract of cultured cells of Flavobacterium heparinum. Purification of the enzyme was achieved by repeating the hydroxyapatite column chromatography. The enzyme was used to degrade heparan sulfate occurring on the surfaces of ascites hepatoma cells, AH 66. From the supernatant of the enzyme-treated cells, breakdown products from heparan sulfate could be detected by paper chromatography. The heparitinase was found to be more effective than trypsin in removing heparan sulfate from the cells. Furthermore, on analyzing glycosaminoglycans and glycopeptides from the enzyme-treated cells and control cells, it was concluded that heparan sulfate was exclusively present on the cell surface and accessible to the heparitinase whereas other cell surface complex carbohydrates remained intact.     

Isolation and expression in Escherichia coli of hepB and hepC, genes coding for the glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes heparinase II and heparinase III, respectively, from Flavobacterium heparinum.

Upon induction with heparin, Flavobacterium heparinum synthesizes and secretes into its periplasmic space heparinase I (EC 4.2.2.7), heparinase II, and heparinase III (heparitinase; EC 4.2.2.8). Heparinase I degrades heparin, and heparinase II degrades both heparin and heparan sulfate, while heparinase III degrades heparan sulfate predominantly. We isolated the genes encoding heparinases II and III (designated hepB and hepC, respectively). These genes are not contiguous with each other or with the heparinase I gene (designated hepA). hepB and hepC were found to contain open reading frames of 2,316 and 1,980 bp, respectively. Enzymatic removal of pyroglutamate groups permitted sequence analysis of the amino termini of both mature proteins. It was determined that the mature forms of heparinases II and III contain 746 and 635 amino acids, respectively, and have calculated molecular weights of 84,545 and 73,135, respectively. The preproteins have signal sequences consisting of 26 and 25 amino acids. Truncated hepB and hepC genes were used to produce active, mature heparinases II and III in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. When these enzymes were expressed at 37 degrees C, most of each recombinant enzyme was insoluble, and most of the heparinase III protein was degraded. When the two enzymes were expressed at 25 degrees C, they were both present predominantly in a soluble, active form.     

Study of structurally defined oligosaccharide substrates of heparin and heparan monosulfate lyases

The rapid preparation of multimilligram quantities of five heparin-derived oligosaccharides (1–5) is described. These oligosaccharides are the final products obtained from the action of heparin lyase (heparinase, E.C. 4.2.2.7) at its primary sites in the heparin polymer. Five oligosaccharides comprise from 75–85 wt% of commercial porcine mucosal heparins and are recovered in good yield and high purity. Four of these five oligosaccharides were further acted upon at much lower rates by prolonged treatment with heparin lyase or heparan monosulfate lyase (heparitinase, E.C. 4.2.2.8), revealing the subspecificities of these enzymes. These oligosaccharides were used as defined substrates for heparin lyase and heparan monosulfate lyase and their kinetic constants were obtained. Potential applications for these oligosaccharides include their use as defined substrates for purification of heparin monosulfate lyases, and for establishing the catalytic purity of enzyme preparations.     

Purification and characterization of acharan sulfate lyases, two novel heparinases, from Bacteroides stercoris HJ-15.

Two novel acharan sulfate lyases (ASL1 and ASL2: no EC number) have been purified from Bacteroides stercoris HJ-15 which was isolated from human intestinal bacteria with glycosaminoglycan (GAG) degrading enzymes. These enzymes were purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of QAE-cellulose, DEAE-cellulose, carboxymethyl-Sephadex C-50, hydroxyapatite and HiTrap SP Sephadex C-25 column chromatography with the final specific activity of 50.5 and 76.7 micromol.min-1.mg-1, respectively. Both acharan sulfate lyases are single subunits of 83 kDa by SDS/PAGE and gel filtration. ASL1 showed optimal activity at pH 7.2 and 45 degrees C. ASL1 activity was inhibited by Cu2+, Ni2+ and Co2+, but ASL2 activity was inhibited by Cu2+, Ni2+and Pb2. Both enzymes were slightly inhibited by some agents that modify histidine and cysteine residues, but activated by reducing agents such as DL-dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol. Both purified bacteroidal acharan sulfate lyases acted to the greatest extent on acharan sulfate, and to a lesser extents on heparan sulfate and heparin. They did not act on de-O-sulfated acharan sulfate. These findings suggest that the biochemical properties of these purified acharan sulfate lyases are different from those of the previously purified heparin lyases, but these enzymes belong to heparinase II.