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A regular fucan sulfate from Stichopus herrmanni and its peroxide depolymerization: Structure and anticoagulant
Xiaomei Li1, Shanni Li2, Jie Liu3
1State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; Chuxiong Medical College, Chuxiong, 675005, China.
Carbohydrate Polymers
|January 23, 2021
Summary
Marine fucan sulfates from sea cucumbers show anticoagulant properties. Peroxide degradation yields smaller fragments with potent anti-thrombin effects, with optimal activity observed around 20 kDa molecular size.
Area of Science:
- Marine natural products
- Carbohydrate chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Marine sulfated polysaccharides, like fucan sulfates, are recognized for diverse bioactivities.
- Peroxide depolymerization is crucial for analyzing polysaccharide structures and structure-activity relationships.
- Characterizing degradation products and the depolymerization process remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the structure of a fucan sulfate (FS) from Stichopus herrmanni.
- To investigate the structural changes and degradation products (dFS) resulting from peroxide treatment.
- To evaluate the anticoagulant activities of FS and its depolymerized products (dFS).
Main Methods:
- Structural elucidation of the native fucan sulfate (FS) using advanced analytical techniques.
- Preparation of depolymerized fucan sulfate (dFS) via peroxide degradation.
- Purification and structural analysis of oligosaccharides from dFS.
- Assessment of anticoagulant activity through anti-thrombin assays in the presence of heparin cofactor II.
Main Results:
- The fucan sulfate (FS) from Stichopus herrmanni was identified as a highly regular structure: {-3)-L-Fuc2S-(α1-}n.
- Peroxide degradation resulted in glycosidic bond cleavage and oxidative modification of the reducing end, without sugar ring breakage.
- Both FS and dFS exhibited significant anticoagulant activity, mediated by anti-thrombin effects.
- The anticoagulant potency of dFS correlated with molecular size, with fragments around 20 kDa showing the strongest activity.
Conclusions:
- Peroxide degradation offers insights into fucan sulfate structure and activity.
- The anticoagulant activity of fucan sulfates is linked to their molecular size and anti-thrombin efficacy.
- Depolymerized fucan sulfates represent potential therapeutic agents for anticoagulant applications.
