Hyaluronan oligosacharides and their biological function

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biophysic and Physical Chemistry Candidate: Bc. Barbora Kučerová Supervisor: Doc. Ing. Alice Lázníčková, CSc. Title of diploma thesis: Hyaluronan oligosaccharides and their biological function In my diploma thesis I compile informations about hyaluronan oligosaccharides. Although hyaluronan is in the body found mostly in a form of long chains, we can find it also as small fragments - the oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharides embody different properties than hyaluronan polymers. Hyaluronan oligosaccharides can be synthetised, separated and analysed in laborarory in a variety of ways. Large molecules can be broken into fragments chemically, physically or enzymatically. For thein subsequent separation and purification especially chromatographic methods are used. As the most suitable methods for their final analysis electrophoretic techniques or mass spectrometry were shown. Continous metabolism of hyaluronan proceeds inside the body . Hyaluronan synthase takes a part in synthesis, and the biodegradation important for human is supplyed by several hyaluronidases. Interaction of hyaluronan with cells is mediated by several receptors. Specific receptor for hyaluronan is CD44, which can bind either large polymers and..