Hyaluronidase degrades hyaluronic acid, a major structural
proteoglycan found in extracellular matrices and basement
membranes. Six members of the hyaluronidase family are clustered
into two tightly linked groups on chromosome 3p21.3 and 7q31.3.
This gene was previously referred to as HYAL1 and HYA1 and has
since been assigned the official symbol SPAM1; another family
member on chromosome 3p21.3 has been assigned HYAL1. This gene
encodes a GPI-anchored enzyme located on the human sperm surface
and inner acrosomal membrane. This multifunctional protein is a
hyaluronidase that enables sperm to penetrate through the
hyaluronic acid-rich cumulus cell layer surrounding the oocyte, a
receptor that plays a role in hyaluronic acid induced cell
signaling, and a receptor that is involved in sperm-zona pellucida
adhesion. Abnormal expression of this gene in tumors has implicated
this protein in degradation of basement membranes leading to tumor
invasion and metastasis. Multiple transcript variants encoding
different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by
RefSeq].
