Hyaluronoglucosaminidase 4 (HYAL4)

Hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan that is ubiquitously present in the extracellular space of higher animals, maintains matrix structure and controls cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, and locomotion. Hyaluronidases, enzymes that catabolize HA, are involved in development and tumorigenesis. HYAL4 is similar in structure to hyaluronidases. Hyaluronidases intracellularly degrade hyaluronan, one of the major glycosaminoglycans of the extracellular matrix. Hyaluronan is thought to be involved in cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. However, this protein has not yet been shown to have hyaluronidase activity. HYAL1, HYAL2, and HYALP1 are widely expressed, but HYAL3 is differentially expressed in bone marrow and testis, while HYAL4 is differentially expressed in placenta and skeletal muscle.