TABLE 16.7

Major differences between heparin and heparan sulfate

CharacteristicsHeparan sulfateHeparin
Soluble in 2 M potassium acetate (pH 5.7, 4°C)yesno
Size10–70 kD7–20 kD
Sulfate/hexosamine ratio0.8–1.81.8–2.6
GlcNSO340–60%≥80%
Iduronic Acid30–50%≥70%
Binding to antithrombin0–0.3%~30%
Site of synthesisvirtually all cellsconnective-tissue-type mast cells

From: Chapter 16, Proteoglycans and Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans

Cover of Essentials of Glycobiology
Essentials of Glycobiology. 2nd edition.
Varki A, Cummings RD, Esko JD, et al., editors.
Cold Spring Harbor (NY): Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; 2009.
Copyright © 2009, The Consortium of Glycobiology Editors, La Jolla, California.

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