Heparanase: Cloning, Function and Regulation

Shaun M Gaskin; Tatiana P Soares Da Costa; Mark D Hulett

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-34521-1_7

Heparanase: Cloning, Function and Regulation

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020:1221:189-229. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-34521-1_7.

Authors

Shaun M Gaskin¹, Tatiana P Soares Da Costa¹, Mark D Hulett²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
² Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia. M.Hulett@latrobe.edu.au.

PMID: 32274711
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-34521-1_7

Abstract

In 2019, we mark the 20th anniversary of the cloning of the human heparanase gene. Heparanase remains the only known enzyme to cleave heparan sulfate, which is an abundant component of the extracellular matrix. Thus, elucidating the mechanisms underlying heparanase expression and activity is critical to understanding its role in healthy and pathological settings. This chapter provides a historical account of the race to clone the human heparanase gene, describes the intracellular and extracellular function of the enzyme, and explores the various mechanisms regulating heparanase expression and activity at the gene, transcript, and protein level.

Keywords: Enzyme activity; Gene cloning; Gene regulation; Heparan sulfate; Heparanase.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cloning, Molecular*
Extracellular Matrix
Glucuronidase / genetics*
Glucuronidase / metabolism*
Heparitin Sulfate
Humans
Transcription, Genetic

Substances

Heparitin Sulfate
heparanase
Glucuronidase