Heparin inhibits the activity of protein phosphatase-1.

Heparin inhibited the dephosphorylation of rabbit skeletal muscle or liver phosphorylase a by protein phosphatase-1. Other glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfates) and their constituents were found to be without effect. The chromatography of a partially purified phosphatase preparation on heparin-Sepharose CL-6B resulted in a fraction that did not bind to the matrix and its activity was not inhibited by heparin or inhibitor-1. The phosphatase bound to heparin-Sepharose was eluted by 0.2 M NaCl and was inhibited by heparin or inhibitor-1.