Branched-chain amino acids regulate hyaluronan synthesis and PPAR alpha expression in the skin

We examined the effects of deletion of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (BDK), a key enzyme in branched-chain amino acid catabolism, on hyaluronan synthesis in mice. The skin levels of hyaluronan and the gene expression levels of hyaluronan synthase (Has)2, Has3, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha were significantly lower in the BDK-knockout group than in the wild-type group.