Hyaluronidase

I.U.B.: 3.2.1.35

C.A.S.: 37326-33-3

Hyaluronate 4-glycanohydrolase

Enzymatic Reaction (image will open in a new window) 

Hyaluronidase catalyzes the random hydrolysis of 1,4-linkages between 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-b-D-glucose and D-glucose residues in hyaluronate.

Characteristics of Hyaluronidase from Bovine Testes:

Molecular weight:

Borders and Raftery (1968) reported a molecular weight of 61,000. Khorlin et al. (1973) report four subunits of 14,000 each and a total molecular weight of 55,000.

Optimum pH:

4.5 - 6 (DeSalequi et al. 1967).

Composition:

The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing 5% mannose and 2.17% glucosamine. The amino acid composition has been determined ( Borders and Raftery 1968).

Extinction coefficient:

= approximately 8.

Inhibitors:

Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ are inhibitory as are Mn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ (Warren et al. 1962).

Specificity:

Testicular hyaluronidase hydrolyzes the endo-N-acetylhexosaminic bonds of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfuric acids A and C (but not B), primarily to tetrasaccharide residues (Ludowieg et al. 1961). Monosaccharides are not liberated (Rappaport et al. 1951).

Stabilizers:

Yang and Srivastav (1975) report that sodium chloride acts as a stabilizer.

Stability:

Worthington hyaluronidase is stable for 1 - 2 years and the purified preparation for 6 - 12 months when stored at -20°C.