Abstract
Hyaluronidase is a term applied to a group of very dissimilar enzymes (1–3) that degrade hyaluronan (HA, hyaluronic acid), a high-molecular-weight glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix. Some of these enzymes have the ability to degrade additional glycosaminoglycans, albeit at a slower rate. Most of the hyaluronidases from eukaryotes have both hydrolytic and transglycosidase activity, while those from bacteria operate by β-elimination. HA is prominent whenever rapid cell proliferation and movement occur, particularly during embryogenesis, wound healing, repair and regeneration, and in tumorigenesis (4–8). Hyaluronidases regulate temporal and spatial distribution patterns of HA, critical during such processes. Hyaluronidases, often present at exceedingly low concentrations, are imbued with high but unstable specific activities. They can be difficult to detect, and their quantitation requires specialized techniques.
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Nawy, S.S., Csóka, A.B., Mio, K., Stern, R. (2001). Hyaluronidase Activity and Hyaluronidase Inhibitors. In: Iozzo, R.V. (eds) Proteoglycan Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 171. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-209-0:383
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-209-0:383
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