EC 4.2.2.8

Heparinase III from Flavobacterium heparinum has been used to cleave specific GAGs. It has been used to study its effect on the electrophoretic mobility of the protein reacting with the anti-aFGF (acidic fibroblast growth factor) antibody.

Heparinase III prevents the formation of new blood vessels in vivo. It specifically degrades heparin sulphate at the HNY-I and HNY,6X-G2 links. Unlike other heparinise, heparinase III does not contain the amino acid cysteine. It contains 13 histidine residues, which is responsible for its catalytic action. This enzyme is not active towards heparin or low molecular weight heparins.