LAUSR

Hyaluronan (HA), a major component of the extracellular matrix in vertebrate tissues, provides structural and functional integrity to cells and organs. Biological functions of HA are dependent on the molecular size of HA and the interaction with a wide range of HA-binding proteins, i.e., hyaladherins. In this book chapter, we introduce hyaladherins and focus on HYBID (Hyaluronan-binding protein involved in hyaluronan depolymerization, alias KIAA1199 and CEMIP), which is one of the hyaladherins and plays a central role in HA degradation in human dermal and arthritic synovial fibroblasts. The protocols describe the preparation of the stable transfectants expressing HYBID, the assays of HYBID-mediated HA depolymerization, and the binding assay of HYBID to HA. These methods will be helpful to further study the HYBID-mediated biological activities and its relevance on HA degradation and turnover under various physiological and pathological conditions such as wound healing, ageing, arthritis, and cancer.