Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

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Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of a Heparan Sulfate Library

Undergraduate #2
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Biochemistry (not Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics)

Michelle Bessiake - Texas Southern University
Co-Author(s): Matt Suflita, Fuming Zhang, and Robert Lindhardt, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY


In this study, we focus on synthesizing a heparan sulfate (HS) library by using biosynthetic enzymes to produce different sulfation patterns. Heparan sulfate is a complex polysaccharide composed of repeating dissaccharde units (L-iduronic aid and glucosamine) with variable sulfation patterns. Using the E. coli K5 capsular polysaccharide heparosan as the starting material, the heparosan is chemically N-sulfated. Once the resulting N- sulfo heparosan is formed it is treated with various combinations of HS biosynthetic enzymes including: 2-Osulfotranferase-1 (2-OST-1), C5 epimerase, 6-OST-1, 6-OST-3, and 3-OST-1. The resulting HS library was then analyzed by reverse phase ion pairing chromatography – mass spectrometry (RPIP-MS) to determine the sulfation type and composition. For future endeavors, this heparan sulfate library will be used to study the structure-activity relationship between HS sulfation patterns and fibroblast growth factor signaling efficiency

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Dr. Robert Lindhardt

Faculty Advisor: Bobby Wilson,

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.