EC 2.4.1.212     
Accepted name: hyaluronan synthase
Reaction: (1) UDP-N-acetyl-α-D-glucosamine + β-D-glucuronosyl-(1→3)-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→4)-[nascent hyaluronan] = UDP + N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucuronosyl-(1→3)-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→4)-[nascent hyaluronan]
(2) UDP-α-D-glucuronate + N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucuronosyl-(1→3)-[nascent hyaluronan] = UDP + β-D-glucuronosyl-(1→3)-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucuronosyl-(1→3)-[nascent hyaluronan]
Glossary: GlcA = glucuronic acid
Other name(s): spHAS; seHAS; Alternating UDP-α-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine:β-D-glucuronosyl-(1→3)-[nascent hyaluronan] 4-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyltransferase and UDP-α-D-glucuronate:N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→4)-[nascent hyaluronan] 3-β-D-glucuronosyltransferase
Systematic name: Alternating UDP-N-acetyl-α-D-glucosamine:β-D-glucuronosyl-(1→3)-[nascent hyaluronan] 4-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyltransferase and UDP-α-D-glucuronate:N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→4)-[nascent hyaluronan] 3-β-D-glucuronosyltransferase (configuration-inverting)
Comments: The enzyme from Streptococcus Group A and Group C requires Mg2+. The enzyme adds GlcNAc to nascent hyaluronan when the non-reducing end is GlcA, but it adds GlcA when the non-reducing end is GlcNAc [3]. The enzyme is highly specific for UDP-GlcNAc and UDP-GlcA; no copolymerization is observed if either is replaced by UDP-Glc, UDP-Gal, UDP-GalNAc or UDP-GalA. Similar enzymes have been found in a variety of organisms.
References:
1.  DeAngelis, P.L., Papaconstantinou, J. and Weigel, P.H. Molecular cloning, identification and sequence of the hyaluronan synthase gene from Group A Streptococcus pyogenes. J. Biol. Chem. 268 (1993) 19181–19184. [PMID: 8366070]
2.  Jing, W. and DeAngelis, P.L. Dissection of the two transferase activities of the Pasteurella multocida hyaluronan synthase: two active sites exist in one polypeptide. Glycobiology 10 (2000) 883–889. [PMID: 10988250]
3.  DeAngelis, P.L. Molecular directionality of polysaccharide polymerization by the Pasteurella multocida hyaluronan synthase. J. Biol. Chem. 274 (1999) 26557–26562. [PMID: 10473619]
4.  Tlapak-Simmons, V.L., Baron, C.A. and Weigel, P.H. Characterization of the purified hyaluronan synthase from Streptococcus equisimilis. Biochemistry 43 (2004) 9234–9242. [PMID: 15248781]
[EC 2.4.1.212 created 2001, modified 2007]