A novel structural fucosylated chondroitin sulfate from Holothuria Mexicana and its effects on growth factors binding and anticoagulation

Fucosylated chondroitin sulfate (FCS), a structurally distinct glycosaminoglycan from the body wall of sea cucumber, possesses many biological properties and pharmacology functions. The refined structure of FCS isolated from sea cucumber Holothuria Mexicana (FCS hm ) was characterized by NMR spectra and HILIC-FTMS, which demonstrated four types of branches in FCS hm. Among these, two branches were α-L-Fuc-2S4S (where Fuc is fucose and S is sulfo) and α-L-Fuc-4S linked to O -3 of glucuronic acid residues, while others were identified as α-L-Fuc-4S and α-L-Fuc-3S4S attached to O -6 of N -acetylgalactosamine residue. Furthermore, the fucosyl branches were α-1,3-linked with different degree of polymerization from 1 to 5. FCS hm exhibited high affinity to fibroblast growth factor 1 and 2, growth factors involved in neovascularization. Moreover, FCS hm displayed intrinsic anticoagulant activity and inhibited thrombin and factor Xa activation by antithrombin III. Our results proposed a novel structural FCS and demonstrated its favorable application prospects in anti-angiogenesis and anticoagulation.