title: Microbial synthesis of hyaluronan and chitin: New approaches.
abstract: Hyaluronan (HA) is an important structural element in the vitreous humor of the eye, synovial fluid, and skin of vertebrates. Moreover, HA interacts with proteins such as CD44, RHAMM, and fibrinogen, thereby influencing many natural processes such as angiogenesis, cancer, cell motility, wound healing, and cell adhesion. Reflecting such a variety of functions, HA has attracted attention from a wide range of application fields such as medicine (including surgery), cosmetics, and health foods. Traditionally HA was extracted from rooster combs, but nowadays is produced by the fermentation of streptococci. At present, quality issues such as purity and molecular weight distribution, rather than quantity, have been the focus of strain and process development in HA production. To meet ever-increasing public demand, novel systems that can yield sufficient amounts of high-quality of HA and related materials are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan. tayamad@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Takeru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
mesh_terms: D002686:Chitin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002708:Chlorella / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000076002:Hyaluronan Synthases; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002686:Chitin; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D000076002:Hyaluronan Synthases