Anti-HYAL3

This gene encodes a member of the hyaluronidase family. Hyaluronidases are endoglycosidase enzymes that degrade hyaluronan, one of the major glycosaminoglycans of the extracellular matrix. The regulated turnover of hyaluronan plays a critical role in many biological processes including cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. The encoded protein may also play an important role in sperm function. This gene is one of several related genes in a region of chromosome 3p21.3 associated with tumor suppression, and the expression of specific transcript variants may be indicative of tumor status. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene, and some isoforms may lack hyaluronidase activity. This gene overlaps and is on the same strand as N-acetyltransferase 6 (GCN5-related), and some transcripts of each gene share a portion of the first exon. Protein function: Facilitates sperm penetration into the layer of cumulus cells surrounding the egg by digesting hyaluronic acid. Involved in induction of the acrosome reaction in the sperm. Involved in follicular atresia, the breakdown of immature ovarian follicles that are not selected to ovulate. Induces ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis, possibly via apoptotic signaling pathway involving CASP8 and CASP3 activation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Has no hyaluronidase activity in embryonic fibroblasts in vitro. Has no hyaluronidase activity in granulosa cells in vitro. [The UniProt Consortium]