A Hexasaccharide Containing Rare 2-O-Sulfate-Glucuronic Acid Residues Selectively Activates Heparin Cofactor II.

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) sequences that selectively target heparin cofactor II (HCII), a key serpin present in human plasma, remain unknown. Using a computational strategy on a library of 46 656 heparan sulfate hexasaccharides we identified a rare sequence consisting of consecutive glucuronic acid 2-O-sulfate residues as selectively targeting HCII. This and four other unique hexasaccharides were chemically synthesized.