Biosynthesis of hyaluronan

Kakizaki I, Kojima K, Takagaki K, Endo M, Kaimagi R, Ito M, Maruo Y, Sato H, Yasuda T, Mita S, Kimata K, Itano N. (2004) A novel mechanism for the inhibition of hyaluronan biosynthesis by 4-methylumbelliferone. J Biol Chem 279 33281-33289. 

O Regan M, Martini I, Crescenzi F, De Luca C, Lansing M, 1994. Molecular mechanisms and genetics of hyaluronan biosynthesis. Int J Biol Macromol 16(6) 283-6. 

Suzuki, M. Asplund, T. Yamashita, H. Heldin, C.-H. Heldin, P. Stimulation of hyaluronan biosynthesis by platelet-derived growth factor-BB and transforming growth factor-pi involves activation of protein kinase C. Biochem. J. 1995, 307, 817-821. 

Hyaluronan p-GlcA/ -(1 3)-p-GlcNAc/ -(l ). The biosynthesis proceeds, apparently without any primer requirement (unlike heparan and chondroitin), by stepwise addition of UDPGlcA and UDPGlcNAc, from the non-reducing end. As with heparan, the synthetases are single polypeptides which catalyse both transfer reactions. 

DeAngehs P.L., Papaconstantinou J., Weigel P.H. (1993) Isolation of a Streptococcus pyogenes gene locus that directs hyaluronan biosynthesis in acapsular mutants and in heterologous bacteria. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 268,14568—14571. 

Dougherty, B.A. van de Rijn, I. Molecular characterization of a locus required for hyaluronic acid capsule production in group A streptococci. J. Exp. Med. 1992, 175, 1291-1299. DeAngelis, P. L. Papaconstantinou, J. Weigel, P.H. Isolation of a Streptococcus pyogenes gene locus that directs hyaluronan biosynthesis in acapsular mutants and in heterologous bacteria. J. Biol. Chem. 1993, 268, 14568-14571. 

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