Summary
Commercial porcine heparin can be separated into three distinct subtractions by using
DEAE-cellulose chromatography and a stepped salt gradient. Gram quantities of heparin
can be fractionated by this technique. All three heparin subtractions can accelerate
the inhibition of thrombin by antithrombin III with different efficiency. The specific
activities of the high activity heparin, intermediate activity heparin and low activity
heparin are 228 units/mg, 142 units/mg and 95 units/mg, respectively. Both the uronic
acid content and the quantity of N-SO4 for all three heparin subfractions have been evaluated. The high activity heparin
has the lowest uronic acid and N-SO4 content. The successful separation of commercial heparin into three distinct subfractions
by means of ion-exchange chromatography suggests that the net charge on these three
heparin components will serve as a model system in the elucidation of the structure
and activity relationship to the biological function of heparin.
