SEPARATION OF ACTIVE AND INACTIVE FORMS OF HEPARIN

Heparin [from porcine intestine] was fractionated into 2 distinct forms. The isolation of these species was accomplished by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of heparin mixed with human antithrombin-heparin cofactor. Approximately 1/3 of this mucopolysaccharide was bound to antithrombin-heparin cofactor and had potent anticoagulant activity. This component was clearly separated from the reminaing 2/3 of the heparin which could not form a stable complex with antithrombin-heparin cofactor and had minimal anticoagulant activity.