Reaction: Cleaves hyaluronate chains at a β-D-GlcNAc-(1→4)-β-D-GlcA bond, ultimately breaking the polysaccharide down to 3-(4-deoxy-β-D-gluc-4-enuronosyl)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine.
Other name(s): hyaluronidase [but cf. EC 3.2.1.35 (hyalurononglucosaminidase) and EC 3.2.1.36 (hyaluronoglucuronidase)]; glucuronoglycosaminoglycan lyase; spreading factor; mucinase
Systematic name: hyaluronate lyase
Comments: The enzyme catalyses the degradation of hyaluronan by a β-elimination reaction. Also acts on chondroitin. The product is more systematically known as 3-(4-deoxy-α-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 37259-53-3
References:
1. Linker, A., Hoffman, P., Meyer, K., Sampson, P. and Korn, E.D. The formation of unsaturated disacharides from mucopoly-saccharides and their cleavage to α-keto acid by bacterial enzymes. J. Biol. Chem. 235 (1960) 3061.
2. Meyer, K. and Rapport, M.M. Hyaluronidases. Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Subj. Biochem. 13 (1952) 199-236.
3. Moran, F., Nasuno, S. and Starr, M.P. Extracellular and intracellular polygalacturonic acid trans-eliminases of Erwinia carotovora. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 123 (1968) 298-306. [PMID: 5642600]