CODING SEQUENCE OF A HYALURONAN SYNTHASE HOMOLOG EXPRESSED DURING EXPANSION OF THE MOUSE CUMULUS-OOCYTE COMPLEX

Maturation of mammalian cumulus cell-oocyte complex in the preovulator y follicle involves the deposition of a hyaluronan-rich extracellular matrix by the cumulus cells. in this study, we report the complete cod ing sequence of a novel mouse hyaluronan synthase homologue expressed in cumulus cell-oocyte complexes induced to expand in vivo. The time f rame of mRNA expression of this molecule correlates well with previous biochemical and immunohistochemical findings on the initiation of hya luronan synthesis in maturing preovulatory follicles. Evolutionary com parison of the vertebrate hyaluronan synthase homologues indicates tha t there are at least two genes that code for these proteins. (C) 1997 Academic Press