HAS1

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

HAS1 (hyaluronan synthase 1) is a human enzyme produced from the HAS1 gene. It helps build hyaluronan (HA), a large sugar chain that is a key part of the extracellular matrix—the surrounding material outside cells.

HA is made at the inside of the cell membrane and then pushed out into the space outside the cell. It serves many roles: filling space in tissues, lubricating joints, and providing a scaffold that helps cells move during growth, wound healing, and tissue repair. Changes in HA levels in the blood can be linked to inflammatory and joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. HA also binds to the CD44 receptor on white blood cells, guiding them to specific tissues; high levels of this receptor have been linked to cancer spread.

HAS1 is part of a vertebrate enzyme family that makes HA. Its protein is related to similar enzymes in other species, indicating a shared role in building hyaluronan.

Where is HAS1? In humans, the HAS1 gene is located on chromosome 19. It is active in many tissues, including the intestines, joints, ovaries, some brain regions, and during development.