Hyaluronic Acid, Bovine

The hyaluronic acids (HA) are a class of macromolecular proteoglycans characterized by a highly polymerized chain of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine units bonded to protein. They exist in nature as a hydrated gel, usually closely associated with other tissue components such as chrondroitin sulfate. Hyaluronic acid (HA) preparations have variable molecular weights depending on purification procedures, the extent of degradation, as well as the source. The range of molecular weight is 70kD to 2,000-4,000kD in a highly polymerized preparation. Bovine vitreous humor HA has a lower molecular weight than most other sources. The hyaluronic acids are a class of macromolecular proteoglycans characterized by a highly polymerized chain of the repeating disaccharide glucuronic acid b-(1-3) N-acetylglucosamine (b1-4). \n\nThe molecular weight of HA preparations varies with purification procedures, i.e., the extent of degradation as well as the source. According to Bettelheim (1958) when the protein is completely removed a molecular weight on the order of 70,000 is obtainable as compared with 2-4 million in a highly polymerized preparation (Laurent and Gergely 1955). It has been reported (Laurent et al. 1960) that bovine vitreous humor hyaluronic acid has a lower molecular weight than most other sources and that from human umbilical cord has the largest molecular weight (Jensen and Carlsen 1954). Pigman et al. (1961) report that HA is degraded in the presence of oxygen and reducing agents and by merthiolate, often used in its preparation. Ascorbic acid likewise has this effect (Swann 1967). The carbohydrate polymer is negatively charged. When it is mixed with a cationic protein such as albumin at low pH, a precipitate is formed. If the glycosidic bonds have been split, i.e., the chain depolymerized, this precipitation no longer occurs. This phenomenon is the basis for the turbidimetric assay of hyaluronidase.\n\nSource: \nBovine vitreous humor\n\nStorage and Stability:\nStore lyophilized powder desiccated at -15 degrees C or below. Reconstitute to nominal volume by adding sterile dH2O. Aliquot and store at -20 degrees C. Reconstituted product is stable for 12 months at -20 degrees C. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Catalog Number

H7980-11

Size

10mg

Form

Supplied as a lyophilized powder.

Purity

Purified

References

1. Atkins, E., and Sheehan, J., Nature New Biol 235:253, 1972. 2. Barrett, T., Biochim Biophys Acta 385:157, 1975. 3. Bettelheim, F., Nature 182:1301, 1958. 4. Bettelheim, F., and Philpott, D., Biochim Biophys Acta 34:124, 1959. 5. Block, A., and Bettelheim, F., Biochim Biophys Acta 201:69, 1970. 6. Blumberg, B., Oster, G., and Meyer, K., J Clin Invest 34:1454, 1955. 7. Cowman, M., Cozart, D., Nakanishi, K., and Balazs, E., Arch Biochem Biophys 230:203, 1984. 8. Frost, S., and Weigel, P., Biochim Biophys Acta 1034:39, 1990. 9. Hardingham, T., and Muir, H., Biochem Soc Trans 1:282, 1973. 10. Jacoboni, I., Mori, V., Quaglino Jr., D., and Pasquali-Ronchetti, I., J Struct Biol 126:52, 1999. 11. Jensen, C., and Carlsen, F.: Acta Chem Scand 8:1357, 1954

Additional Info

Suitable as a substrate for hyaluronidase assays.

Alternative Names

Copoly-beta-glucuronic acid; [1-3]-beta-N-acetylglucosamine[1-4] sodium salt