GlycoForum/GlycoScience/Science of Hyaluronan

Warren Knudson, Ph.D. Department of Biochemistry Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL 60612 USA [email protected] Warren Knudson obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1981 working in the laboratory of Dr. Edward Conrad. Following postdoctoral study in Dr. Bryan Toole’s laboratory, where his interest in hyaluronan began, he joined the faculty at Rush Medical College in Chicago in 1985. Currently, he is the Associate Chairman and an endowed Professor of Biochemistry at Rush University Medical Center. Dr. W. Knudson’s area of interest concerns the overall metabolism of hyaluronan. His laboratory has explored the expression and function of hyaluronan synthases, hyaluronidases and the hyaluronan receptor CD44 in articular chondrocytes as well as a variety of model cell lines. Most of the work is aimed at addressing underlying defects in hyaluronan metabolism associated with osteoarthritis. The current focus of the laboratory concerns the internalization and degradation of hyaluronan via CD44, how this mechanism is regulated and how this mechanism coordinates with CD44 signaling, hyaluronan synthase activity and lysosomal hyaluronidase expression. Dr. W. Knudson works closely with Dr. Cheryl B. Knudson especially in the area of CD44 and cellmatrix interactions.