Synthesis of hyaluronan of distinctly different chain length is regulated by differential expression of Xhas1 and 2 during early development of Xenopus laevis.
The localization of hyaluronan has been determined in tailbud stage embryos of Xenopus laevis using a neurocan-alkaline phosphatase fusion protein. This polysaccharide was located between the germ layers and enriched in mesenchyme, the lumen of the neural tube, the embryonic gut, the hepatic cavity and the heart. A full-length cDNA for a hyaluronan synthase, Xhas2 has been cloned. The expression pattern of Xhas1 and 2 is closely similar to the distribution of hyaluronan in the embryo. Xhas1 produces hyaluronan with a molecular mass of around 40-200 kDa, while the product formed by Xhas2 has a molecular mass above 1 million Da.
Köprunner
M
M
Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Molecular Biology, Billrothstrasse 11 A-5020, Salzburg, Austria.
Müllegger1
J
J
Lepperdinger
G
G
D000818:Animals; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; D000076002:Hyaluronan Synthases; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014166:Transferases; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D014166:Transferases; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; C056944:HAS1 protein, Xenopus; C491096:Has2 protein, Xenopus; D000076002:Hyaluronan Synthases