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The hyaluronidase Hyal-1 is an acid hydrolase that degrades hyaluronic acid (HA), a component of the extracellular matrix. It is often designated as a lysosomal protein. Yet few data are available on its intracellular localization and trafficking. We demonstrate here that in RAW264.7 murine macrophages, Hyal-1 is synthesized as a glycosylated precursor that is only weakly mannose 6-phosphorylated. Nevertheless, this precursor traffics to endosomes, via a mannose 6-phosphate-independent secretion/recapture mechanism that involves the mannose receptor. Once in endosomes, it is processed into a lower molecular mass form that is transported to lysosomes, where its activity could be detected using native gel zymography. Indeed, this activity co-distributed with lysosomal hydrolases in the densest fraction of a self-forming Percoll(TM) density gradient. Moreover, it shifted toward the lower density region, in parallel with those hydrolases, when a decrease of lysosomal density was induced by the endocytosis of sucrose. Interestingly, the activity of the processed form of Hyal-1 was largely underestimated when assayed by zymography after SDS-PAGE and subsequent renaturation of the proteins, by contrast to the full-length protein that could efficiently degrade HA in those conditions. These results suggest that noncovalent associations support the lysosomal activity of Hyal-1., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

It has long been known that liver lysosomes contain an endoglycosidase activity able to degrade the high molecular mass glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid (HA). The identification and cloning of a hyaluronidase with an acidic pH optimum, Hyal-1, suggested it might be responsible for this activity. However, we previously reported that this hydrolase could only be detected in pre-lysosomal compartments of the mouse liver using a zymography technique that allows the detection of Hyal-1 activity after SDS-PAGE ("renatured protein zymography"). Present work reveals that the activity highlighted by this technique belongs to a precursor form of Hyal-1 and that the lysosomal HA endoglycosidase activity of the mouse liver is accounted for by a proteolytically processed form of Hyal-1 that can only be detected using "native protein zymography". Indeed, the distribution of this form follows the distribution of β-galactosidase, a well-established lysosomal marker, after fractionation of the mouse liver in a linear sucrose density gradient. In addition, both activities shift toward the lower density region of the gradient when a specific decrease of the lysosomal density is induced by Triton WR-1339 injection. The fact that only native protein zymography but not renatured protein zymography is able to detect Hyal-1 activity in lysosomes points to a non-covalent association of Hyal-1 proteolytic fragments or the existence of closely linked partners supporting Hyal-1 enzymatic activity. The knockdown of Hyal-1 results in an 80% decrease of total acid hyaluronidase activity in the mouse liver, confirming that Hyal-1 is a key actor of HA catabolism in this organ., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The rapid turnover rate of hyaluronan (HA), the major unbranched glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix, is dependent on hyaluronidases. One of them, hyaluronidase-2 (Hyal2), degrades HA into smaller fragments endowed with specific biological activities such as inflammation and angiogenesis. Yet the cellular environment of Hyal2, a purported glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein, remains uncertain. We have examined the membrane association of Hyal2 in MDA-MB231 cancer cells where it is highly expressed and in COS-7 cells transfected with native or fluorescent Hyal2 constructs. In both cell types, Hyal2 was strongly associated with cell membrane fractions from which it could be extracted using a Triton X-114 treatment (hydrophobic phase) but not an osmotic shock or an alkaline carbonate solution. Treatment of membrane preparations with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C released immunoreactive Hyal2 into the aqueous phase, confirming the protein is attached to the membrane through a functional GPI anchor. Hyal2 transfected in COS-7 cells was associated with detergent-resistant, cholesterol-rich membranes known as lipid rafts. The cellular immunofluorescent pattern of Hyal2 was conditioned by the presence of a GPI anchor. In summary, the strong membrane association of Hyal2 through its GPI anchor demonstrated in this study using biochemical methods suggests that the main activity of this enzyme is located at the level of the plasma membrane in close contact with the pericellular HA-rich glycocalyx, the extracellular matrix, or possibly endocytic vesicles., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

It has been suggested that intracellular Hyal-1 (hyaluronidase-1), which is considered a lysosomal enzyme, originates via endocytosis of the serum enzyme. To test this proposal we have investigated the uptake and intracellular distribution of rhHyal-1 (recombinant human Hyal-1) by mouse liver, making use of centrifugation methods. Experiments were performed on wild-type mice injected with 125I-labelled rhHyal-1 and on Hyal-1-/- mice injected with the unlabelled enzyme, which were killed at various times after injection. Activity of the unlabelled enzyme was determined by zymography. Intracellular distribution of Hyal-1 was investigated by differential and isopycnic centrifugation. The results of the study indicated that rhHyal-1 is endocytosed by the liver, mainly by sinusoidal cells, and follows the intracellular pathway described for many endocytosed proteins that are eventually located in lysosomes. However, Hyal-1 endocytosis has some particular features. First, endocytosed rhHyal-1 is quickly degraded. Secondly, its distribution, as analysed by differential centrifugation, differs from the distribution of beta-galactosidase, taken as the reference lysosomal enzyme. Further analysis by isopycnic centrifugation in a sucrose gradient shows endocytosed rhHyal-1 behaves like beta-galactosidase shortly after injection. However the Hyal-1 distribution is markedly less affected than beta-galactosidase, following a prior injection of Triton WR-1339, which is a specific density perturbant of lysosomes. The behaviour in centrifugation of endogenous liver Hyal-1, identified by hyaluronan zymography, exhibits some similarity with the behaviour of the endocytosed enzyme, suggesting that it could originate from endocytosis of the serum enzyme. Overall, these results can be explained by supposing that active endocytosed Hyal-1 is mainly present in early lysosomes. Although its degradation half-time is short, Hyal-1 could exert its activity due to a constant supply of active molecules from the blood.