Hyaluronan and cell locomotion.

Hyaluronan (HA), a glycosaminoglycan, has long been implicated in cell locomotion. We have shown that HA production regulates the locomotion of H-ras-transformed cells. This autocrine motility mechanism is mediated by a novel HA receptor termed RHAMM, an acronym for Receptor for HA Mediated Motility. HA:RHAMM interactions regulate directional locomotion of tumor cells and result in enhanced protein tyrosine phosphorylation that may be a critical messenger mechanism for initiation of locomotion.