A xylogalactofucan from the brown seaweed Spatoglossum schroederi stimulates the synthesis of an antithrombotic heparan sulfate from endothelial cells

The brown seaweed Spatoglossum schroederi (Dictyotaceae) contains three main fucans (fucans A, B and C) with different mobility in electrophoresis. the fucan with highest mobility (fucan C) was precipitated with 2.0 volumes of acetone, purified using a combination of ion exchange chromatography and electrophoresis. It showed an MW of 24 kDa determined by HPLC and Sephadex G-75 chromatography and migrates as a single band in three distinct electrophoretic systems. This fucan contains fucose, xylose, galactose and sulfate in a molar ratio 1 :0.6: 2:2.3. the fucan has neither anticoagulant (from 10 to 100 mu g) nor hemorrhagic activities (100 mu g/mL). in addition, fucan C is neither cytotoxic nor cytostatic. However, fucan C (100 mu g/mL) stimulated the synthesis of an antithrombotic heparan sulfate from endothelial cells of rabbit aorta. the results suggest that fucan C might be used as an antithrombotic therapeutic compound.Univ Fed Rio Grande Norte, Ctr Biociencias, Dept Bioquim, Lab Biotecnol Polimeros Nat, BR-59097570 Natal, RN, BrazilUniv Fed Rio Grande Norte, Dept Bioquim, Lab Glicobiol, BR-59097570 Natal, RN, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc