Hyaluronan synthase 3 is an

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

that in humans is encoded by the ''HAS3''

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...

. The protein encoded by this gene is involved in the synthesis of the unbranched glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan, or hyaluronic acid, which is a major constituent of the extracellular matrix. This gene is a member of the NODC/HAS gene family. Compared to the proteins encoded by other members of this gene family, this protein appears to be more of a regulator of hyaluronan synthesis. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.

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