Photoswitchable Heparinase III for Enzymatic Preparation of Low Molecular Weight Heparin.

A photocontrollable biocatalyst was rationally designed by site-specifically linking a photoswitchable azobenzene derivative to the only cysteine residue in heparinase III mutant (K130C). Upon photoswitch, the enzymatic degradation of heparin could be artificially controlled to produce low molecular weight heparin with more uniform molecular weight and an increase in anticoagulant activity.