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. 1982 Oct 1;207(1):139–144. doi: 10.1042/bj2070139

Detection of secondary structure in glycosaminoglycans via the H n.m.r. signal of the acetamido NH group.

J E Scott, F Heatley
PMCID: PMC1153834  PMID: 7181855

Abstract

Two simple methods for dissolving salts of acid glycosaminoglycans with inorganic cations (e.g. Li+ and Na+) in dry dimethyl sulphoxide are described. Complete n.m.r. spectra of, e.g., Na+ and Li+ salts of chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate were obtained on these solutions. In [2H6]dimethyl sulphoxide the NH resonance of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy hexosides is in the range 7.2-8.0 delta, but is downfield (8.3-9.3 delta) when the NH is H-bonded to -CO2-. Heparan sulphate shows two NH resonances, of which one (at 8.3 delta) is probably indicative of H-bonding. Space-filling models show that a very close approach of NH to -CO2- across the alpha-glucosaminidic bond is possible, and a solution configuration for heparan sulphate is proposed. The n.m.r. results are entirely compatible with interpretations of periodate-oxidation kinetics, based on H-bonded secondary structures present in hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphates, but not in dermatan (or keratan) sulphate.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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