Identification of Chondroitin Sulfates Having Unique Structures from Shellfish Using Chondroitinase ACII

Marine organisms, especially bivalve molluscs have been known as an alternative source of heparin, an anticoagulant. Although chondroitin sulfate (CS) can be also extracted together with heparin, the detailed glycan structures of CS have not been investigated. CS derived from 11 different shellfish was treated by chondroitinase ABC or chondroitinase ACII, and the resulting unsaturated disaccharides were analyzed by HPLC. As a result, unknown peaks in the chromatograms of some shellfish samples were detected using chondroitinase ACII treatment but not using chondroitinase ABC. In case of CS from Mactra chinensis, keratan sulfate disaccharide substituted at the C-3 position of glucuronic acid was found. These results suggest that disaccharide analysis with chondroitinase ACII is useful for the discovery of structurally unique CS from marine organisms.