2. Academic Validation
  3. ZNF263 is a transcriptional regulator of heparin and heparan sulfate biosynthesis

ZNF263 is a transcriptional regulator of heparin and heparan sulfate biosynthesis

  • Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Apr 28;117(17):9311-9317. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1920880117.
Ryan J Weiss 1,  Philipp N Spahn 2,  Alejandro Gómez Toledo 1,  Austin W T Chiang 2,  Benjamin P Kellman 2,  Jing Li 1,  Christopher Benner 3,  Christopher K Glass 1 3,  Philip L S M Gordts 3 4,  Nathan E Lewis 2 4 5,  Jeffrey D Esko 6 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0687.
  • 2 Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0760.
  • 3 Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0687.
  • 4 Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0687.
  • 5 Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0687.
  • 6 Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0687; [email protected].
PMID: 32277030 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1920880117
Abstract

Heparin is the most widely prescribed biopharmaceutical in production globally. Its potent anticoagulant activity and safety makes it the drug of choice for preventing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. In 2008, adulterated material was introduced into the heparin supply chain, resulting in several hundred deaths and demonstrating the need for alternate sources of heparin. Heparin is a fractionated form of heparan sulfate derived from animal sources, predominantly from connective tissue mast cells in pig mucosa. While the enzymes involved in heparin biosynthesis are identical to those for heparan sulfate, the factors regulating these enzymes are not understood. Examination of the promoter regions of all genes involved in heparin/heparan sulfate assembly uncovered a transcription factor-binding motif for ZNF263, a C2H2 zinc finger protein. CRISPR-mediated targeting and siRNA knockdown of ZNF263 in mammalian cell lines and human primary cells led to dramatically increased expression levels of HS3ST1, a key Enzyme involved in imparting anticoagulant activity to heparin, and HS3ST3A1, another glucosaminyl 3-O-sulfotransferase expressed in cells. Enhanced 3-O-sulfation increased binding to antithrombin, which enhanced Factor Xa inhibition, and binding of neuropilin-1. Analysis of transcriptomics data showed distinctively low expression of ZNF263 in mast cells compared with other (non-heparin-producing) immune cells. These findings demonstrate a novel regulatory factor in heparan sulfate modification that could further advance the possibility of bioengineering anticoagulant heparin in cultured cells.

Keywords

Factor X; anticoagulant; heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferases; heparin; zinc-finger transcription factor.

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