Hyaluronan metabolism

Stable Identifier
R-HSA-2142845
Type
Pathway
Species
Homo sapiens
ReviewStatus
5/5
Locations in the PathwayBrowser
General
SVG |   | PPTX  | SBGN
Click the image above or here to open this pathway in the Pathway Browser
Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, hyaluronate or HA) is an anionic glycosaminoglycan (GAG) distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues and most abundant in the extracellular matrix and skin. HA is unique among the GAGs in that it is not sulfated and is not found covalently attached to proteins as a proteoglycan. HA polymers are very large (they can reach molecular weights of 10 million Da) and can displace a large volume of water making them excellent lubricators and shock absorbers. Another unique feature of HA is that it is synthesized at the plasma membrane unlike other GAGs which are formed in the Golgi. HA is a polymer of the disaccharide unit D-glucuronic acid and D-N-acetylglucosamine, linked via alternating beta-1,4 and beta-1,3 glycosidic bonds (Toole 2000, 2004, Volpi et al. 2009).
Literature References
PubMed ID Title Journal Year
10930435 Hyaluronan is not just a goo!

Toole, BP

J Clin Invest 2000
19442142 Role, metabolism, chemical modifications and applications of hyaluronan

Schiller, J, Volpi, N, Stern, R, Soltés, L

Curr Med Chem 2009
15229478 Hyaluronan: from extracellular glue to pericellular cue

Toole, BP

Nat Rev Cancer 2004
Participants
Participates
Event Information
Orthologous Events
Authored
Reviewed
Created
Cite Us!