HYALURONAN-BINDING PROTEINS AND RECEPTORS

Hyaluranon is a glycosaminoglycan implicated in development, repair and disease processes. It appears to regulate these processes, in part, by interacting with specific binding proteins. These proteins can be conveniently divided into those that are primarily extracellular, including aggrecan, link protein(s), versican, hyaluronection or 'receptors' that are closely associated with the cell surface. The later category includes a lymphocyte homing receptor, termed CD44, and a receptor that mediates cell locomotion, termed RHAMM. The molecular properties and known functions of these proteins are discussed.