Characterization of HYAL2 and non-HYAL2 dependent pathways of hyaluronan degradation

**透明质酸（HA）是一种多糖，对脊椎动物细胞周围基质的结构和功能至关重要。平均每个成年人体内有15克HA，其中1/3每天通过组织更替被替换。此外，HA在细胞增殖和迁移时增加，在细胞成熟时通过调节HA周转而减少。已经确定了三种广泛表达的降解透明质酸的透明质酸酶（HYALs）和三种结合和内化透明质酸的受体，但它们如何促进透明质酸的降解却知之甚少。***目的****我实验室的长期目标是确定三种HYAL酶（HYAL1, HYAL2, HYAL3）如何与透明质酸受体一起介导透明质酸降解。在目前的透明质酸降解模型中，HYAL2被提议将细胞外的透明质酸切割成碎片，这些碎片被内化以在溶酶体中降解。与此一致的是，缺乏HYAL2 （HYAL2 KO）的小鼠积累了细胞外HA。然而，不能重复地检测到HYAL2活性。此外，来自HYAL2 KO小鼠的细胞内化和降解HA。基于这些发现，我们假设HYAL2是一种活性受调控的HA降解酶，并且存在不依赖HYAL2的HA降解途径。我的近期目标（未来5年）是解决这个假设：****1。确定HYAL2是否作为ha降解酶和/或受体起作用。我们将检测HA的大小，以及它是否在HYAL2 KO细胞中表达的野生型或突变型HYAL2存在时被内化。突变HYAL2存在时HA大小增加，表明HYAL2是一种酶。如果证实了HYAL2的活性，我们将通过质谱法和/或使用HA蛋白复合物代替外源性HA开发新的HYAL2活性测定方法。****2。鉴定可调节其活性的HYAL2结合蛋白。HYAL2的相互作用伙伴将使用免疫沉淀和质谱法从发育中的小鼠心脏中鉴定。确认的相互作用伙伴将在野生型和HYAL2 KO细胞中过表达，并且将检查HA大小，HYAL2活性和HA内化。****3。鉴别和区分透明质酸降解的途径。野生型和Hyal2 KO细胞对荧光HA的摄取将在存在和不存在内化途径抑制剂和/或已知HA受体的阻断抗体的情况下进行监测。在体外鉴定的途径将在体内通过光学成像监测荧光标记的透明质酸的摄取来验证。****意义****通过我的HQP，我们将推进对HA降解的理解，同时给予HQP在糖科学方面的宝贵技能，这些技能是化妆品、兽医和组织工程应用中使用HA的行业所需要的。HYAL2或其激活剂可能被这些行业确定为有价值的目标，用于开发可以延长外源性HA产物半衰期的抑制剂。**

**Hyaluronan (HA) is a polysaccharide that is essential to the structure and function of the matrix surrounding vertebrate cells. There is 15 g of HA present in an average adult human, 1/3 of which is replaced each day through constitutive turnover. In addition HA is increased when cells multiply and migrate and decreased when cells mature through regulated HA turnover. Three widely expressed hyaluronidase enzymes (HYALs) that degrade HA and three receptors that bind and internalize HA have been identified, but how they contribute to HA degradation is poorly understood. ***OBJECTIVES****The long term objective of my laboratory is to determine how three HYAL enzymes (HYAL1, HYAL2, HYAL3) work with HA receptors to mediate HA degradation. In the current model for HA degradation, HYAL2 is proposed to cleave extracellular HA to fragments that are internalized for degradation in the lysosome. Consistent with this, mice lacking HYAL2 (HYAL2 KO) accumulate extracellular HA. However, HYAL2 activity is not reproducibly detected. Further, cells from HYAL2 KO mice internalize and degrade HA. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that HYAL2 is an HA-degrading enzyme whose activity is regulated, and that non-HYAL2 dependent pathways of HA degradation exist. My immediate goals (next 5 years) to address this hypothesis are:****1. To determine if HYAL2 functions as a HA-degrading enzyme and/or receptor. The size of HA and whether it is internalized in the presence of wild type or mutant forms of HYAL2 expressed in HYAL2 KO cells will be examined. Increased HA size in the presence of mutant HYAL2 will suggest HYAL2 is an enzyme. If activity for HYAL2 is demonstrated, we will develop novel assays for HYAL2 activity by mass spectrometry and/or using HA protein complexes to replace exogenous HA.****2. To identify HYAL2 binding proteins that can modulate its activity. Interacting partners for HYAL2 will be identified from developing mouse hearts using immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry. Confirmed interacting partners will be overexpressed in wild type and HYAL2 KO cells and HA size, HYAL2 activity, and HA internalization, will be examined.****3. To identify and differentiate pathways of HA degradation. Uptake of fluorescent HA by wild type and Hyal2 KO cells will be monitored in the presence and absence of inhibitors of internalization pathways, and/or blocking antibodies for known HA receptors. Pathways identified in vitro will be verified in vivo by monitoring the uptake of fluorescently labelled HA by optical imaging.****SIGNIFICANCE****With my HQP, we will advance the understanding of HA degradation while giving HQP valuable skills in glycoscience that are needed by industries using HA in cosmetic, veterinary and tissue engineering applications. HYAL2, or its activators, are likely to be identified as valuable targets by these industries for the development of inhibitors that could increase the half life of exogenous HA products. **