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Regulated expression and subcellular localization of syndecan heparan sulfate proteoglycans and the syndecan-binding protein CASK/LIN-2 during rat brain development.

The syndecan family of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans interacts via their cytoplasmic C-terminal tail with the PDZ domain of CASK/LIN-2, a membrane-associated guanylate kinase homolog. The syndecan-CASK interaction may be involved in intercellular signaling and/or cell adhesion. Here we show that syndecan-1 to syndecan-4 have distinctive mRNA distributions in adult rat brain by in situ hybridization, with syndecan-2 and -3 being the major syndecans expressed in neurons of the forebrain. At the protein level, syndecan-2 and -3 are differentially localized within neurons; syndecan-3 is concentrated in axons, whereas syndecan-2 is localized in synapses. The synaptic accumulation of syndecan-2 occurs late in synapse development. CASK is a cytoplasmic-binding partner for syndecans, and its subcellular distribution changes strikingly during development, shifting from a primarily axonal distribution in the first 2 postnatal weeks to a somatodendritic distribution in adult brain. This change in CASK distribution correlates temporally and spatially with the expression patterns of syndecan-3 and -2, consistent with the association of both of these syndecans with CASK in vivo. In support of this, we were able to coimmunoprecipitate a complex of CASK and syndecan-3 from brain extracts. Our results indicate that specific syndecans are differentially expressed in various cell types of the brain and are targeted to distinct subcellular compartments in neurons, where they may serve specialized functions. Moreover, CASK is appropriately expressed and localized to interact with both syndecan-2 and -3 in different compartments of the neuron throughout postnatal development.

Aging↗

N-syndecan (syndecan 3) from neonatal rat brain binds basic fibroblast growth factor.

The cell surface proteoglycan N-syndecan (syndecan 3) was isolated from neonatal rat brain. Purified brain N-syndecan had biochemical properties very similar to N-syndecan previously identified in Schwann cells: it contained mainly, if not exclusively, heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains and had a core protein with an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. We examined the interactions between purified N-syndecan and extracellular ligands using a solid phase binding assay. It was found that among all proteins tested, including a variety growth factors and extracellular matrix molecules, only basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) exhibited significant N-syndecan binding. N-syndecan binding to bFGF was saturable and exhibited a KD = 0.5 nM. Soluble bFGF effectively competed with immobilized bFGF for binding to N-syndecan, indicating that these two proteins also interact in solution. Heparin and heparan sulfate, but not chondroitin sulfate, inhibited N-syndecan-bFGF binding. Isolated N-syndecan core protein did not exhibit significant binding to bFGF. Thus, the heparan sulfate chains of N-syndecan, rather than its core protein, appear to be responsible for binding to bFGF. Interestingly, acidic fibroblast growth factor, which is structurally similar to bFGF, did not exhibit significant N-syndecan binding. N-syndecan also did not bind to several other heparin-binding proteins used in this study, indicating a high degree of specificity for the N-syndecan-bFGF interaction. Both N-syndecan and bFGF are abundant in neonatal brain, suggesting that N-syndecan may function as a co-receptor for bFGF during nerve tissue development.

Animals↗

Syndecan-1 (CD138) immunoreactivity in bone marrow biopsies of multiple myeloma: shed syndecan-1 accumulates in fibrotic regions.

Syndecan-1 (CD138) mediates myeloma cell adhesion, and loss of syndecan-1 from the cell surface may contribute to myeloma proliferation and dissemination. Flow cytometry analysis of myeloma cells in bone marrow specimens shows heterogeneity in cell surface syndecan-1 expression. It is not known whether weaker expression correlates with more aggressive disease. However, recent reports suggest that variations in syndecan-1 staining intensity on myeloma cells may be an artifact of specimen handling. In this study, we evaluate syndecan-1 expression in bone marrow biopsy sections from 28 multiple myeloma patients, to elucidate the heterogeneity of syndecan-1 expression in situ. Immunoreactivity for syndecan-1, using the antibody B-B4 (CD138), was found in more than 95% of multiple myeloma cells in 27 of 28 biopsies. However, one biopsy had more than 50% CD138-negative cells and cells with weak CD138 expression were identified in the majority of cases. Loss of syndecan-1 did not appear to relate to myeloma cell differentiation. In addition, syndecan-1 was detected on intravascular and intrasinusoidal myeloma cells suggesting that loss of syndecan-1 may not be required for extramedullary dissemination. Bone marrow biopsies from nine additional patients, with variable CD138 staining intensity on myeloma cells as determined by flow cytometry, were studied by immunohistochemistry. The heterogeneous CD138 expression was confirmed in situ, with weakly positive cells concentrated in areas of reticulin fibrosis. These cells had a disrupted pattern of membrane staining in contrast to the strong linear membrane staining seen in the other multiple myeloma cells. In addition, the fibrotic stroma stained intensely for syndecan-1. Accumulation of syndecan-1 within the extracellular matrix of the marrow likely is derived by shedding of the molecule from the surface of myeloma cells. Because syndecan-1 can act to regulate the activity of heparan-binding growth factors, these reservoirs of syndecan-1 may play a critical role in promoting myeloma pathogenesis, or in regeneration of the tumor after chemotherapy.

Biopsy↗

A novel laminin-binding form of syndecan-1 (cell surface proteoglycan) produced by syndecan-1 cDNA-transfected NIH-3T3 cells.

Syndecan-1, a cell surface proteoglycan, binds many extracellular matrix components via its heparan sulfate side chains. In previous studies syndecan-1 has failed to bind laminin, although both syndecan-1 and laminin are expressed at sites of early matrix accumulation, like in basement membranes of epithelial-mesenchyma boundaries and in condensing mesenchymes during embryonic development. In order to study whether syndecan-1 regulates the adhesion of mesenchymal cells to laminin, syndecan-1 was expressed in NIH-3T3 cells by transfection. Syndecan-1-transfected cells showed increased binding to laminin in comparison to control transfected cells. We then compared the properties of syndecan-1 isolated from transfected NIH-3T3 cells and from NMuMG mammary epithelial cells. In solid-phase binding assays, syndecan-1 from NIH-3T3 cells, but not NMuMG cells, bound to laminin. NIH-3T3-derived syndecan contained more chondroitin sulfate than NMuMG-derived syndecan-1, and our results revealed that both heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate mediate syndecan-1 binding to laminin. E3 domain revealed highest binding for syndecan-1 among the elastase-derived fragments of laminin. These results suggest that induction of syndecan-1 in mesenchymal cells may be involved in cellular recognition of laminin during developmental processes.

3T3 Cells↗

Syndecan 3: a member of the syndecan family of membrane-intercalated proteoglycans that is expressed in high amounts at the onset of chicken limb cartilage differentiation.

A partial cDNA that encodes a newly discovered member of the syndecan family of integral membrane proteoglycans, which we have termed syndecan 3, has been isolated from an embryonic chicken limb bud cDNA library. Syndecan 3 is distinct from but structurally related to syndecan and fibroglycan, two previously characterized members of this family of membrane-intercalated proteoglycans. Syndecan 3 contains a cytoplasmic domain potentially associated with the cytoskeleton that is 85% identical in amino acid sequence to the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan. Syndecan 3 also possesses a hydrophobic transmembrane domain and an extracellular domain containing several clustered potential glycosaminoglycan attachment sites. Like syndecan, the ectodomain of syndecan 3 has a single dibasic protease-susceptible site adjacent to the transmembrane domain, which might be involved in shedding the ectodomain from the cell surface. A striking feature of syndecan 3 is an extensive (182 amino acid) threonine, serine, and proline (T+S+P)-rich domain that closely resembles T+S+P-rich regions in several mucin-like proteins in which O-linked oligosaccharides are bound to the threonine and serine residues. Syndecan 3 is expressed in high amounts during a critical phase of chicken limb chondrogenesis in which limb mesenchymal cells condense, round up, and interact with one another before depositing a cartilage matrix. The multiple functional domains of syndecan 3 provide potential sites for mediating the adhesive cell-matrix interactions and cytoskeletal reorganization involved in this critical condensation process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Proximal promoter of the murine syndecan-1 gene is not sufficient for the developmental pattern of syndecan expression in B lineage cells.

Syndecan-1 (CD138) is a cell membrane proteoglycan that binds extracellular matrix components and various growth factors. The role of syndecan-1 in the control of cell growth and morphology has been illustrated by its altered expression in hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma as well as some solid tumors. It has been reported that the expression of syndecan-1 in cells of the B lineage is developmentally regulated such that pre-B cells and plasma cells express syndecan-1 while mature B cells do not. Thus, we investigated whether the proximal promoter region of the murine syndecan-1 promoter was able to confer the observed on-off-on expression of syndecan-1 in cells of the B lineage as they develop from pre-B cells to plasma cells. Experiments carried out using deletion mutants of the proximal promoter cloned upstream of the CAT reporter gene transfected into murine cell lines, representing the above stages of B-cell development, such as BA/F3 (pro-B cell), 70Z/3 (pre-B cell), 2PK3 (late mature B cell), and MPC-11 (plasma cell), showed detectable levels of CAT expression. The WEHI-231 (mature B cell) cell lines did not show detectable levels of CAT reporter activity. The strong levels of expression were observed with a fragment of the proximal promoter spanning the region from -365 to -95 (from the translation start point). However, Northern analysis of RNA obtained from the five murine B-cell lines, representing various stages of B-cell development, showed that the 70Z/3, MPC-11 but not BA/F3, and 2PK3 cells expressed detectable levels of syndecan-1 mRNA. By FACS analysis, using a rat anti mouse syndecan-1 antibody, syndecan-1 expression on the cell surface was found to correlate with the observed mRNA expression patterns in these cell lines. Our results indicate that the proximal promoter of the murine syndecan-1 promoter is not sufficient for the observed developmental pattern of syndecan expression in B cells.

Animals↗

Thrombin stimulates syndecan-1 promotor activity and expression of a form of syndecan-1 that binds antithrombin III in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells express transmembrane proteoglycans of the syndecan gene family. We reported previously that the expression of syndecans by VSM cells is regulated by mitogens such as serum, platelet-derived growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor and that syndecan expression is induced after balloon injury in vivo. We now show that thrombin is a potent inducer of syndecan-1 expression in VSM cells. Transient transfection experiments with a rat syndecan-1 promoter construct demonstrated that thrombin stimulates transcription of the syndecan-1 gene. Syndecan expression in response to thrombin was not inhibited by downregulation of protein kinase C. Thrombin-induced syndecan-1 expression was dependent on tyrosine kinase activity. Calcium was necessary for syndecan-1 expression, but increasing the intracellular calcium levels was not sufficient to induce syndecan-1 expression. Analysis of antithrombin III (AT III) binding activity revealed that thrombin caused an increase in the synthesis of syndecan-1 molecules that exhibited high-affinity AT III binding. These results suggest that VSM cells could play an important role in controlling local thrombus formation subsequent to vascular injury, via a feedback mechanism that involves thrombin-induced stimulation of an inhibitor of thrombin activity.

Animals↗

Syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 can mediate the invasion of OpaHSPG-expressing Neisseria gonorrhoeae into epithelial cells.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo) expressing the outer membrane protein OpaHSPG can adhere to and invade epithelial cells via binding to heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG) receptors. In this study, we have investigated the role of syndecan-1 and syndecan-4, two members of the HSPG family, in the uptake of Ngo by epithelial cells. When overexpressed in HeLa cells, both syndecans co-localize with adherent Ngo on the host cell surface. This overexpression of syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 leads to a three- and sevenfold increase in Ngo invasion respectively. In contrast, transfection with the syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 mutant constructs lacking the intracellular domain results in an abrogation of the invasion process, characteristic of a dominant-negative mode of action. A concomitant loss of the capacity to mediate Ngo uptake was also observed with syndecan-4 mutant constructs carrying lesions in the dimerization motif necessary for the binding of protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), and mutants that are deficient in a C-terminal EFYA amino acid motif responsible for binding to syntenin or CASK. We conclude that syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 can both mediate Ngo uptake into epithelial cells, and that their intracellular domains play a crucial role in this process, perhaps by mediating signal transduction or anchorage to the cytoskeleton.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Syntenin-syndecan binding requires syndecan-synteny and the co-operation of both PDZ domains of syntenin.

Syntenin is an adaptor-like molecule that binds to the cytoplasmic domains of all four vertebrate syndecans. Syntenin-syndecan binding involves the C-terminal part of syntenin that contains a tandem of PDZ domains. Here we provide evidence that each PDZ domain of syntenin can interact with a syndecan. Isolated or combined mutations of the carboxylate binding lysines in the inter-betaAbetaB loops and of the alphaB1 residues in either one or both the PDZ domains of syntenin all reduce syntenin-syndecan binding in yeast two-hybrid, blot-overlay, and surface plasmon resonance assays. PDZ2 mutations have more pronounced effects on binding than PDZ1 mutations, but complete abrogation of syntenin-syndecan binding requires the combination of both the lysine and the alphaB1 mutations in both the PDZ domains of syntenin. Isothermal calorimetric titration of syntenin with syndecan peptide reveals the presence of two binding sites in syntenin. Yet, unlike a tandem of two PDZ2 domains and a reconstituted PDZ1+PDZ2 tandem, a tandem of two PDZ1 domains and isolated PDZ1 or PDZ2 domains do not interact with syndecan bait. We conclude to a co-operative binding mode whereby neither of these two PDZ domains is sufficient by itself but where PDZ2 functions as a "major" or "high affinity" syndecan binding domain, and PDZ1 functions as an "accessory" or "low affinity" syndecan binding domain. The paired, but not the isolated PDZ domains of syntenin bind also strongly to the immobilized cytoplasmic domains of neurexin and B-class ephrins. By inference, these data suggest a model whereby recruitment of syntenin to membrane surfaces requires two compatible types of bait that are in "synteny" (occurring together in location) and engages both PDZ domains of syntenin. The synteny of compatible bait may result from the assemblies and co-assemblies of syndecans and other similarly suited partners in larger supramolecular complexes. In general, an intramolecular combination of PDZ domains that are weak, taken individually, would appear to be designed to detect rather than drive the formation of specific molecular assemblies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regulated expression of syndecan in vascular smooth muscle cells and cloning of rat syndecan core protein cDNA.

cDNA encoding the core protein of rat syndecan was cloned from a neonatal rat aortic cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Expression of syndecan mRNA in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells was demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-linked polymerase chain reaction amplification of syndecan sequences using total RNA from rat aortic VSM cells as templates. Polyclonal antibodies against rat syndecan core protein were produced by immunizing rabbits with a recombinant fusion protein containing a fragment of the extracellular domain. The anti-syndecan antibodies immunoprecipitated a large 35SO4-labeled molecule synthesized by cultured rat aortic VSM cells. The immunoprecipitated molecule was identified as a hybrid proteoglycan, based on results of alkaline, nitrous acid, and chondroitinase ABC digestions. On immunoblots the antibodies recognized a proteoglycan of greater than 200 kDa, with a core protein size after deglycosylation of approximately 50 kDa. The anti-syndecan antibodies stained cultured rat aortic VSM cells as well as tissue sections of neonatal and adult rat aortas in the medial, smooth muscle layer. On Northern blots of RNA isolated from cultured VSM cells, a syndecan cDNA probe hybridized to a major RNA species of 2.6 kilobases. Quantitative Northern blot analysis of total RNA isolated from VSM cells harvested at different cell densities revealed a decrease in syndecan mRNA levels with increased cell density. These results demonstrate the regulated synthesis of syndecan by rat VSM cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Syndecan-3 and syndecan-4 specifically mark skeletal muscle satellite cells and are implicated in satellite cell maintenance and muscle regeneration.

Myogenesis in the embryo and the adult mammal consists of a highly organized and regulated sequence of cellular processes to form or repair muscle tissue that include cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Data from cell culture and in vivo experiments implicate both FGFs and HGF as critical regulators of these processes. Both factors require heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans for signaling from their respective receptors. Since syndecans, a family of cell-surface transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are implicated in FGF signaling and skeletal muscle differentiation, we examined the expression of syndecans 1-4 in embryonic, fetal, postnatal, and adult muscle tissue, as well as on primary adult muscle fiber cultures. We show that syndecan-1, -3, and -4 are expressed in developing skeletal muscle tissue and that syndecan-3 and -4 expression is highly restricted in adult skeletal muscle to cells retaining myogenic capacity. These two HSPGs appear to be expressed exclusively and universally on quiescent adult satellite cells in adult skeletal muscle tissue, suggesting a role for HSPGs in satellite cell maintenance or activation. Once activated, all satellite cells maintain expression of syndecan-3 and syndecan-4 for at least 96 h, also implicating these HSPGs in muscle regeneration. Inhibition of HSPG sulfation by treatment of intact myofibers with chlorate results in delayed proliferation and altered MyoD expression, demonstrating that heparan sulfate is required for proper progression of the early satellite cell myogenic program. These data suggest that, in addition to providing potentially useful new markers for satellite cells, syndecan-3 and syndecan-4 may play important regulatory roles in satellite cell maintenance, activation, proliferation, and differentiation during skeletal muscle regeneration.

Aging↗

Transgenic expression of syndecan-1 uncovers a physiological control of feeding behavior by syndecan-3.

Transgenic expression in the hypothalamus of syndecan-1, a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) and modulator of ligand-receptor encounters, produces mice with hyperphagia and maturity-onset obesity resembling mice with reduced action of alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (alphaMSH). Via their HS chains, syndecans potentiate the action of agouti-related protein and agouti signaling protein, endogenous inhibitors of alphaMSH. In wild-type mice, syndecan-3, the predominantly neural syndecan, is expressed in hypothalamic regions that control energy balance. Food deprivation increases hypothalamic syndecan-3 levels several-fold. Syndecan-3 null mice, otherwise apparently normal, respond to food deprivation with markedly reduced reflex hyperphagia. We propose that oscillation of hypothalamic syndecan-3 levels physiologically modulates feeding behavior.

Aging↗

Self-association of N-syndecan (syndecan-3) core protein is mediated by a novel structural motif in the transmembrane domain and ectodomain flanking region.

We expressed domains of the core protein of the transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan N-syndecan (syndecan-3) either individually or as maltose-binding protein fusion proteins. Biochemical characterization of the purified proteins revealed that some of them were capable of self-association and formed stable, noncovalent multimeric complexes. The formation of N-syndecan core protein complexes was also demonstrated in mammalian cells by in situ cross-linking. Identification of structural motifs in the core protein of N-syndecan responsible for the formation of these complexes was accomplished by analyzing a series of constructs comprising different regions of the protein as well as site-directed mutants. Self-association was assayed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, glutaraldehyde cross-linking, and size-exclusion high pressure liquid chromatography. Our results indicated that (i) the transmembrane domain of the N-syndecan core protein was required but not sufficient for the formation of stable complexes; (ii) the minimal amino acid sequence that conferred the ability of the N-syndecan core protein to form multimeric complexes included the last four amino acids (ERKE) of the extracellular domain plus the transmembrane domain; (iii) point mutations that changed the basic residues in this sequence to alanine residues either partially or completely abolished the ability of the N-syndecan core protein to form complexes; and (iv) replacement of conserved glycine residues in the transmembrane domain with leucines abolished complex formation. This property is similar to the oligomerization activity of other transmembrane receptors and suggests that regulated self-association may be important for the biological activity of transmembrane proteoglycans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of syndecan-4 expression in 3T3-F442A mouse adipocytes: link between syndecan-4 induction and cell proliferation.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are found on the surface of most cells. Syndecan-4 is a widely expressed transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Using quantitative RNase protection assays and immunoblotting, syndecan-4 expression was characterized in 3T3-F442A mouse adipoblasts. These cells exhibit dramatic changes in their biological and morphological characteristics during differentiation to adipocytes. During this process, the levels of syndecan-4 protein and mRNA expression changed dramatically. They peaked at the time when quiescent cells reentered the cell cycle before differentiation. Serum depletion-repletion also replicated the syndecan-4 mRNA induction when the cells were released back into proliferation, and a cycloheximide treatment abolished the peak of induction. In addition, inhibiting syndecan-4 induction with antisense oligonucleotides inhibited the proliferation of 3T3-F442A cells. In the terminally differentiated adipocytes characterized by the loss of proliferation capability, the serum inducibility of syndecan-4 is repressed, emphasizing the link between syndecan-4 induction in 3T3-F442A cells and cell proliferation.

3T3 Cells↗

Isolation of a neuronal cell surface receptor of heparin binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM). Identification as N-syndecan (syndecan-3).

HB-GAM (heparin binding growth-associated molecule; pleiotrophin) is a secretory, extracellular matrix-associated protein that is strongly expressed in developing nervous tissues and belongs to a novel family of differentiation/growth factors. It promotes axonal growth from perinatal rat brain neurons and is suggested to be mitogenic for some cell types and to display cell-transforming activity. Since the receptors of HB-GAM in cells are unknown, we have started isolation of putative cell surface receptors from brain neurons and from perinatal rat brain. For this purpose, recombinant HB-GAM was produced with the aid of a baculovirus vector and used as an affinity matrix in receptor isolation. A detergent-solubilized component from cultured brain neurons and from brain was identified that binds specifically to HB-GAM and migrates on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a broad smear with an apparent molecular mass of about 200 kDa. This cell surface component was found to contain heparan sulfate chains, which are bound to a core protein with an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa. Gel electrophoretic characteristics, immunochemical analysis, and partial peptide sequencing revealed that the cell surface component isolated as an HB-GAM receptor is N-syndecan (syndecan-3). In a solid phase binding assay, N-syndecan was found to bind to HB-GAM in a similar manner as to basic fibroblast growth factor (KD = 0.6 nM). Immunofluorescence microscopy indicated that in brain neurons, N-syndecan occurs at the surface of the cell soma and of the neurites that grow along HB-GAM-coated substrates. Anti-N-syndecan antibodies added to culture media had an inhibitory effect on HB-GAM-induced neurite outgrowth. We suggest that N-syndecan mediates the neurite outgrowth-promoting signal from HB-GAM to the cytoskeleton of growing neurites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein kinase C regulation of glypican-1, syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 mRNAs expression during rat Sertoli cell development.

Our previous studies indicated that cell surface proteoglycans were mostly heparan sulfate ones (HSPG) in 20 day-old Sertoli cells [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1510 (2001) 474]. Among these HSPG, glypican-1, syndecans-1 and -4 mRNAs were expressed and differentially regulated. Glypican-1 and syndecan-1 mRNA expression was up-regulated under PKC activation in contrast to syndecan-4 mRNA expression which was not affected [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1474 (2000) 31]. Rat Sertoli cells undergo extensive changes during the postnatal period both in structure and function, as the hematotesticular barrier establishment occurs at around 20 day-old. The testicular PKCalpha expression in developing Sertoli cells results in (i) a soluble (inactive) form which is maximal at the age of 1 day and declines gradually thereafter and (ii) a particulate (active) form which is low at birth, increases six-fold on days 8-11 of age and declines thereafter. The present study focused on the glypican-1, syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 mRNA expression and regulation under PKC activation by the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in 10-30 day-old Sertoli cells. Our data indicated that the regulation of their expression specifically depends on the nature of HSPG and Sertoli cell developmental stage and evidenced a specific PKC regulation of HSPG mRNA expression.

Animals↗

Phosphorylation of recombinant N-syndecan (syndecan 3) core protein.

The cytoplasmic domain of the syndecan family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans is punctuated by the presence of four regularly spaced tyrosine residues. In this report, we explore the possibility of whether the four tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic domain of N-syndecan (Syndecan 3) are potential substrates for phosphorylation by a tyrosine kinase. Bacterially expressed elk kinase was used to phosphorylate a series of bacterially expressed N-syndecan fusion proteins. Our results clearly demonstrate that the tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic domain of N-syndecan can be phosphorylated by a tyrosine-specific kinase, and that all four tyrosine residues are capable of being phosphorylated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Co-expression of heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) and N-syndecan (syndecan-3) in developing rat brain.

Biochemical and cell biological studies have previously identified N-syndecan as a neuronal cell surface receptor in neurite outgrowth induced by heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM). In the present study we have compared temporal and spatial expression patterns of N-syndecan and HB-GAM using Northern and Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Expression of N-syndecan mRNA and protein peaks during the perinatal developmental stage of the brain in the same manner as the expression of HB-GAM mRNA and protein. In addition, both proteins are preferentially localized to fiber tracts of developing brain. We suggest that HB-GAM and N-syndecan form ligand-receptor complexes in developing axon tracts of brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗