Histological localization and analytical evaluation of heparin in the wedge clam Donax cuneatus (Linnaeus, 1758).
Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) of the heparin family was localized in the tissues of the bivalve mollusk Donax cuneatus. Different histological staining procedures such as Alcian blue, azure-A, safranin and periodic acid-Schiff reagent (PAS) were followed to test the presence of GAG in various tissues of this bivalve mollusk. GAG was found in the tissues of gill, palp, ctenidia, foot, mantle, inhalant and adductor muscle in order of decreasing importance. Palp, gill and ctenidia tissues showed high staining intensity with PAS (94.8%) processing and Alcian blue (92.4%) indicated the presence of sulfated polysaccharide. Crude GAG was isolated from these tissues using the cetylpyridinium chloride precipitation method. The product obtained was tested for its anticoagulant property along with standard heparin, which was partially purified by fractionation by anion exchange chromatography using a diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose column. The isolated GAG and fractionated GAG were also compared with standard heparin through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) to find relevant functional groups. The bivalve GAG was subjected to DEAE-cellulose fractionation for further purification and its chemical components were analyzed. The subsequent comparison with commercial heparin showed that D. cuneatus could be a potent source of heparin for commercial use.
Vijayabaskar
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Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamilnadu, India. baski_bos@yahoo.co.in
Somasundaram
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D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis; D006493:Heparin / Q000032:analysis*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006493:Heparin