title: Expression pattern of a novel hyaluronidase during Xenopus embryogenesis.
abstract: We have isolated a cDNA encoding a novel hyaluronidase, which is expressed during embryogenesis. The encoded protein was expressed as a fusion polypeptide with glutathione S-transferase, and the affinity-purified fusion protein was shown to possess hyaluronidase activity with a pH optimum about pH 4.0. The expression of the XEH1 gene was analysed by in situ hybridization, and was first apparent in scattered cells in a broad ventral region of late gastrula embryos. As development proceeded through to tailbud stages, the domain of expression became progressively more restricted, eventually being located in the developing liver rudiment near the primary hepatic cavity. The results reveal the dynamic regulation of the contrasting activities of hyaluronan synthesis and degradation during early morphogenetic movements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Old
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase