The CNS-specific hyaluronan binding protein, BEHAB, is expressed during periods of glial cell generation and motility

BEHAB, a gene encoding a hyaluronan binding protein, is expressed only in the central nervous system. BEHAB is almost identical to brevican, but the predicted BEHAB protein is shorter than that of brevican, and does not include glycosaminoglycan addition sites. During brain development BEHAB is expressed at high levels in the proliferative ventricular zone coincident with the peak period of glial cell generation. BEHAB is also expressed during reactive gliosis and in primary glioma. The extracellular protein encoded by BEHAB may play a role in glial cell generation or motility.