DNA ENCODING HYALURONIC ACID SYNTHASE (HAS), EXPRESSION VECTORS CONTAINING THIS GENE, AND PRODUCTION OF HYALURONIC ACID BY TRANSEFORMED MICROORGANISMS AND IN VITRO

摘要

An isolated DNA fragment comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding hyaluronic acid synthase is provided. Also provided are recombinant expression vectors comprising this sequence, capable of expressing hyaluronic acid synthase in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as host cells harboring such expression vectors. Such cells are capable of producing hyaluronic acid synthase, hyaluronic acid, or both, which can be recovered from these cells, the culture medium, or both. Also provided are a method of producing hyaluronic acid synthase, methods of producing hyaluronic acid both (in vivo) and (in vitro), and hyaluronic acid produced by these methods. In the case of (in vitro) production, the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid can be varied by varying the time of incubation of hyaluronic acid precursors in the presence of hyaluronic acid synthase and/or the reaction conditions. Lastly, a method of purifying hyaluronic acid synthase from cultured cells is also provided.