Hyaluronoglucosaminidase 3 (HYAL3)

Hyaluronidase-3 is a protein which 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. The gene is one of several related genes in a region of chromosome 3p21.3 associated with tumor suppression. It has been hypothesized that by helping degrade the extracellular matrix surrounding the tumor, hyaluronidases help the cancer cell escape from the primary tumor mass. Hyaluronidases are also thought play a role in the process of angiogenesis although most hyaluronidase preparations are contaminated with large amounts of angiogeneic growth factors.