heparin

[Bernard Pirard <pirard-: at :-scf.fundp.ac.be>]

 	Dear colleagues,
 	Last year, David D R Devan from the
 Department of Biochemistry of the University of
 Virginia asked the followin question :
 "We are studying the ability of polyanions to
 act as enzymes inhibitors. The polyanions that
 we are using include heparin, dermatan sulfate,
 chondroitian sulfate, polygalacturonic acid,
 polyaspartic acid and polyglutamic acid. As
 part of these studies, we would like to
 generate computer models of the interaction of
 the polyanions with enzymes. I can find
 structures of short segments chondroitan
 sulfate in the Brookhaven PDB and some
 structural information for polyaminoacids
 (though at low pH). Can anyone provide
 information (reference for better coordinates
 for the models themselves) about models that
 have developed for these or other polyanions.
 We are especially interested in structural
 models of heparin".
 	I would like to get a summary of the
 answers to this question. In addition, have
 additional papers been published in this field
 since last year. I will mail a summary of the
 answers.
 	Many thanks in advance,
 	Best regards,
 	Bernard Pirard
 	Research Assistant
 	Laboratoire de Chimie Moleculaire
 	Structurale
 	rue de Bruxelles, 61
 	B-5000 Namur Belgium
 	E-mail Pirard-: at :-SCF.FUNDP.AC.BE
 	Fax 32 81 72 45 30
 	Tel 32 81 72 45 69