The invention relates to heparinase III and mutants thereof. Modified
forms of heparinase III having reduced enzymatic activity which are
useful for a variety of purposes, including sequencing of heparin-like
glycosaminoglycans (HLGAGs), removing active heparan sulfate from a
solution, inhibition of angiogenesis, etc. have been discovered according
to the invention. The invention in other aspects relates to methods of
treating cancer and inhibiting tumor cell growth and/or metastasis using
heparinase III, or products produced by enzymatic cleavage by heparinase
III of HLGAGs.