The ubiquitous glycosaminoglycan (GAG) 1 hyaluronan has diverse biological roles in
vertebrates. These include acting as a vital structural component of connective tissues, the
formation of loose hydrated matrices that allow cells to divide and migrate (eg during
development), immune cell adhesion and activation, and a role in intracellular signaling (1–
3). This wide range of activities may seem surprising for an unbranched polysaccharide
comprised entirely of a repeating disaccharide, D-glucuronic acid (133) N-acetyl-D …