Extraction, purification and evaluation of structures and physico-chemical properties of glycosaminoglycans

Heparin was extracted and purified from beef intestinal mucosa. The two components, fast moving heparin and slow moving heparin were purified by selective precipitation as barium salts. Heparan sulfate was extracted and purified from beef spleen. Dermatan sulfate was purified from beef intestinal mucosa and chondroitin sulfate from bovine trachea. The purity of the purified glycosaminoglycans was evaluated by agarose-gel and cellulose polyacetate electrophoresis and by specific optical rotation. The relative molecular masses of glycosaminoglycans were estimated by high performance-size exclusion chromatography and the sulfate to carboxyl ratio by titrimetric analysis. The disaccharide pattern of heparin, fast moving and slow moving heparins and heparan sulfate were determined by specific enzymatic cleavage using heparinase I, II and III; the disaccharide composition of dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate was evaluated by cleavage by chondroitinase ABC. The disaccharides obtained by enzymatic cleavage were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed by strong anion exchange-high performance liquid chromatography. The sulfate to carboxyl ratios of glycosaminoglycans were also determined by this technique and compared with the values obtained by titrimetric analysis.