Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid (/ˌhaɪ.əljʊəˈrɒnɪk/; abbreviated HA; conjugate base hyaluronate), also called hyaluronan, is an anionic, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues. It is unique among glycosaminoglycans as it is non-sulfated, forms in the plasma membrane instead of the Golgi apparatus, and can be very large: human synovial HA averages about 7 million Da per molecule, or about 20,000 disaccharide monomers, while other sources mention 3–4 million Da.
Haworth projection | |
| Names | |
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| IUPAC name
(1→4)-(2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-D-gluco)-(1→3)-D-glucuronoglycan | |
| Systematic IUPAC name
Poly{[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-2,4-diyl]oxy[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-6-carboxy-3,4-dihydroxyoxane-2,5-diyl]oxy} | |
| Identifiers | |
| ChEBI | |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.029.695 |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| (C14H21NO11)n | |
| Pharmacology | |
| D03AX05 (WHO) M09AX01 (WHO), R01AX09 (WHO), S01KA01 (WHO) | |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |
The average 70 kg (150 lb) person has roughly 15 grams of hyaluronan in the body, one third of which is turned over (i.e., degraded and synthesized) per day.
As one of the chief components of the extracellular matrix, it contributes significantly to cell proliferation and migration, and is involved in the progression of many malignant tumors. Hyaluronic acid is also a component of the group A streptococcal extracellular capsule, and is believed to play a role in virulence.