Proteoglycan
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Syndecans and Glypicans - Cell surface proteoglycans

 The syndecan family contains four members (syndecan-1/syndecan, syndecan-2/fibroglycan, syndecan-3/N-syndecan, syndecan-4/ryudocan (amphyglycan)), which are transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs)(1, 2). These HSPGs exhibit cell type-specific distribution with vascular endothelial cells expressing syndecan-1, -2, and -4, and predominant targeting to basolateral surfaces. The syndecan family members are type I integral membrane proteins with homologous transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. The combined transmembrane/cytoplasmic domains contain four well-conserved tyrosine residues, which might serve important roles for biological function.


The cytoplasmic tail of syndecan-1 interacts with intracellular microfilaments, and that of syndecan-4 with focal adhesion molecules. Syndecan-1 has both heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate GAG(glycosaminoglycan) chains with a tissue-specific structural polymorphism due to distinct post translational modifications. Syndecan-1 has also been purified as an anticoagulant HSPG from endothelial cells or as a bFGF receptor molecule in golden hamsters. Thus, this polymorphism of syndecan-1 likely reflects distinct HSPG functions.


The glypican, another cell surface HSPG family, is composed of five members (glypican-1/glypican, glypican-2/cerebroglycan, glypican/OCI-5, glypican-4/K-glypican, glypican-5)(2, 3). Glypican family members possess an extracellular region with GAG attachment sites, 14 invariant cysteine residues, which stabilize a highly compact tertiary structure, and a COOH-terminal GPI(glycosylphosphatidylinositol) anchor. Glypican family members are selectively expressed on different cell types with only glypican-1 present on vascular endothelial cells. These HSPGs are mainly targeted to apical surfaces, and this process is partially dependent upon the extent of glycanation. It is also suggested that glypican plays an important role in regulating the biological activity of fibroblast growth factors via HS GAG chains like syndecan.
Figure

Figure Legend
Cell surface HSPG familiesF
The membrane spanning syndecans and GPI anchored glypicans. Potential and identified GAG attachment sites are indicated by red lines. For the syndecans, the homologous transmembrane domain (dark blue) and intracellular domain (stipple) with conserved tyrosines (dots), as well as the Thr, Ser, Pro rich domain of syndecan-3 (crosshatch) are indicated. For the glypicans, indicated are the core protein (blue solid line) and GPI anchor (dark blue part). (Modified from ref. 2)
Tetsuhito Kojima (Nagoya University, School of Medicine)
References (1) Bernfield M, Kokenyesi R, Kato M, Hinkes MT, Spring J, Gallo RL, Lose EJ: Biology of the syndecans: a family of transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Ann. Rev. Cell Biol., 8:365-393, 1992.
(2) Rosenberg RD, Schworak NW, Lui J, Schwartz JJ, Zhang L: Heparan sulfate proteoglycans of the cardiovascular system. Specific structures emerge but how is synthesis regulated ? J. Clin. Invest., 99:2062-2070, 1997.
(3) Veugelers M, Vermeesch J, Reekmans G, Steinfeld R, Marynen P, David G: Characterization of glypican-5 and chromosomal localization of human GPC5, a new member of the glypican gene family. Genomics 40: 24-30, 1997.
Dec.15, 1997

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