分解肝素與硫酸肝素的酵素通常來自於土壤中的解肝磷脂土地桿菌[52]。解肝磷脂土地桿菌以肝素或硫酸肝素作為它的唯一碳源,為了分解肝素與硫酸肝素,解肝磷脂土地桿菌產生裂解酶,葡糖苷酸酶,磺基酯酶和磺酰胺酶[53] ,最常使用的是裂解酶。解肝磷脂土地桿菌共產生三種裂解酶:肝素酶 I (EC4.2.2.7)、肝素酶 II (沒有EC編號)、肝素酶 III (EC4.2.2.8),這三個酵素的專一性詳見下表: [54][55]
肝素酶
對受質的專一性(辨認的醣類序列)
肝素酶 I
GlcNS(±6S)-IdoA(2S)
肝素酶 II
GlcNS/Ac(±6S)-IdoA(±2S) GlcNS/Ac(±6S)-GlcA
肝素酶 III
GlcNS/Ac(±6S)-GlcA/IdoA (with a preference for GlcA)
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