中国生物工程杂志

Heparinases, a kind of polysaccharide lyase, can degrade heparin and heparin sulfate to low molecular weight polysaccharides. It has been noted that many bacteria have heparinases although only few of them have been purified and characterized. Heparinases I, II and III from Flavobacterium heparinum have been extensively studied for many years and been commercialized recently. Heparinases have some important applications in the industry and clinic as well as in the determination of heparin structure, which is a very important anticoagulant drug used world-widely. In this paper, we will review recent progresses in isolation of heparinase-producing bacteria, purification of the heparinases, the study of biochemistry and regulation of heparinase production as well as the recombinant expression of these enzymes. Important applications of heparinases and their potential applications in the future will also be highlighted.