Unique fucosylated glycosaminoglycans (FG) have attracted increasing attention for various bioactivities. However, the precise structures of FGs usually vary in a species-specific manner. In this study, HfFG was isolated fromHolothuria floridanaand purified by anion exchange chromatography with the yield of ~0.9%. HfFG was composed of GlcA, GalNAc and Fuc, its molecular weight was 47.3 kDa, and the -OSO3−/-COO−molar ratio was 3.756. HfFG was depolymerized by a partial deacetylation–deaminative cleavage method to obtain the low-molecular-weight HfFG (dHfFG). Three oligosaccharide fragments (Fr-1, Fr-2, Fr-3) with different molecular weights were isolated from the dHfFG, and their structures were revealed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. HfFG should be composed of repeating trisaccharide units -{(L-FucS-α1,3-)d-GlcA-β1,3-d-GalNAc4S6S-β1,4-}-, in which sulfated fucose (FucS) includes Fuc2S4S, Fuc3S4Sand Fuc4Sresidues linked to O-3 of GlcA in a ratio of 45:35:20. Furthermore, the heparanase inhibitory activities of native HfFG and oligosaccharide fragments (Fr-1, Fr-2, Fr-3) were evaluated. The native HfFG and its oligosaccharides exhibited heparanase inhibitory activities, and the activities increased with the increase of molecular weight. Additionally, structural characteristics such as sulfation patterns, the terminal structure of oligosaccharides and the presence of fucosyl branches may be important factors affecting heparanase inhibiting activity.Keywords:Holothuria floridana;fucosylated glycosaminoglycans;oligosaccharide;chemical structure;heparanase
Fucosylated glycosaminoglycan (FG) from Holothuroidea exhibits notable structural diversity and multiple biological activities. This study investigated the HfFG isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria floridana , focusing on its chemical structure and biological activities. Structural analysis of eleven oligosaccharides (a-k) and a depolymerized product (dHfFG-II) using NMR identified the HfFG backbone as chondroitin sulfate E (CS-E), with various branches, including L-Fuc 2S4S , L-Fuc 3S4S , L-Fuc 4S , and the unique disaccharide D-GalNAc 4S -α1,2-L-Fuc 3S4S , attached at C-3 of GlcA. A high L-Fuc 2S4S (40 %) and disaccharide branch (35 %) content allowed their contiguous distribution within the CS-E chain, as evidenced by the predominant hexasaccharides (i, j) in size-homogeneous Fr4 and the novel nonasaccharide k in Fr5. Notably, previously unreported branches and sequences in HfFG were confirmed, offering new understanding of the natural HfFG structure. HfFG showed potent inhibitory activities on the intrinsic tenase complex (iXase), heparanase, and P-selectin binding to PSGL-1. Depolymerization selectively modulated these activities, preserving anti-iXase potency while attenuating heparanase and P-selectin inhibition. These activities were dependent on oligosaccharide chain length and sequence. Comparing the activities of FG and its oligosaccharides highlights their potential for the rational design of targeted inhibitors of heparanase or P-selectin binding to PSGL-1, with significant implications for therapeutic applications.