Unlocking the Mysteries of Heparan Sulfate
Heparan sulfate (HS) is present on the cell surface and extracellular matrix of most animals which has an important role in in vivo development and homeostasis. CD BioGlyco has a professional research team on Marine Carbohydrates and has mastered first-class Marine Animal Polysaccharide Characterization technology, which provides HS characterization from different marine animal sources according to the needs of clients.
Structural Characterization
HS from different sources has different structures and properties. To fully characterize the structure of HS, we offer a variety of techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Among them, NMR and MS effectively analyze the sugar chains and glycosidic bonding of HS, while IR can fully characterize the functional groups and special groups of HS.
Molecular Weight (Mw) Analysis
We use gel permeation chromatography-mass spectrometry (GPC-MS) to analyze the Mw and Mw distribution of HS from different marine animal sources.
Monosaccharide Composition Analysis
We utilize NMR and MS to detect the monosaccharide composition of HS. Among them, 2D NMR detects residues that lack ultraviolet absorbance, e.g., glucuronic acid present at the non-reducing end.
Disaccharide Composition Analysis
The disaccharide composition of HS can be performed using subsequent strong anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (SAX-HPLC). Using the standard curve and integral area of each disaccharide peak, the proportion of each disaccharide present in HS can be determined.
Purity Analysis
We determine the purity of HS using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis (CAME).
HS Oligosaccharides Sequence Analysis
Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and negative electron transfer dissociation (NETD) of HS oligosaccharides allow online sequencing. This method is not only suitable for the differentiation of isomers and differential isomers in HS but can also be used to identify major and rare modifying motifs.
Publication Data
Technology: LC-MS/MS
Journal: Communications Biology
IF: 5.2
Published: 2020
Results: In this research, the authors quantified the individual disaccharide composition and the total amount of HS using the LC-MS/MS. The whole protocol consisted of three steps: extraction of HS; digestion of HS by heparin lyase I-III followed by disaccharide derivatization; and LC-MS/MS analysis. During this process, the authors added disaccharide calibrators as internal standards. Finally, the authors normalized the peak area of each concentration in the obtained HS chromatogram to the peak area of the disaccharide calibrator, and thus successfully analyzed the disaccharide composition and total amount of HS.
Fig.1 Process of HS analysis based on LC-MS/MS. (Wang, et al., 2020)
Applications
- By characterizing the changes that occur in HS under different physiological and pathological conditions, potential biomarkers of disease can be identified and therefore this can be used in research on disease.
- For the development of drugs containing HS, detailed characterization can be used to ensure drug consistency and safety.
- HS structural characterization can be used to help researchers understand cell signaling, cell adhesion, and cell-matrix interactions.
Advantages
- We have advanced HS characterization techniques to provide highly accurate HS structure information to help clients apply full HS.
- According to the specific needs of our clients, our team provides tailor-made HS characterization solutions, adapting characterization strategies and methods to the needs of the project.
- We provide comprehensive analysis data reports to help clients understand the results of HS characterization and guide subsequent research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the similarities and differences between heparin and HS?
Heparin and HS are both structurally complex, polydisperse linear Glycosaminoglycans, consisting of a repeating disaccharide unit formed by glucuronic acid or iduronic acid and glucosamine linked by a 1,4-glycosidic bond. The degree of sulfated is an important marker for distinguishing heparin from HS, which is less sulfated, and heparin, which is more sulfated.
What is the role of HS?
HS is a polysaccharide found widely on cell surfaces and in cytoplasmic matrices. HS has interactions with a range of functional proteins such as growth factors, chemokines, and interleukins, which in turn play a role in physiological processes such as embryonic development, cell growth, inflammatory responses, coagulation, tumor metastasis, and viral invasion.
CD BioGlyco has a team of experienced marine carbohydrate researchers who provide HS analysis and characterization premium services to our clients. Our services cover all aspects of sample preparation, characterization, and data interpretation to help clients accelerate their research process. Please feel free to contact us if you need to know more about HS characterization or if you need to consult and cooperate with us.
Reference
- Wang, Z.J.; et al. Quantitative analysis of heparan sulfate using isotopically labeled calibrants. Communications Biology. 2020, 3: 425.
