Sugar and proteins
a. What is the biochemical role of hyaluronan?
b. The enzyme hyaluronidase is found as a component of some snake and insect toxins. How does it increase a toxin’s effectiveness?
(a) Hyaluronic acid is an anionic, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues. It is unique among glycosaminoglycans in that it is nonsulfated, forms in the plasma membrane instead of the Golgi, and can be very large, with its molecular weight often reaching the millions.[2] One of the chief components of the extracellular matrix, hyaluronan contributes significantly to cell proliferation and migration, and may also be involved in the progression of some malignant tumors.
(b) Hyaluronidase increases tissue permeability to accelerate absorption of toxins into tissues
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