Syndecan 4 Antibody #12236

Syndecans are a family of type 1 transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans comprising four members in mammals (SDC1-4) (1) encoded by four syndecan genes. Syndecans are involved in embryonic development, tumorigenesis, and angiogenesis (2). The extracellular domain harbors attachment sites for heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains, facilitating interaction with an array of proteins, including a plethora of growth factors. In addition, the hydrophobic C-terminal intracellular domain can interact with proteins containing a PDZ domain (2). These interactions place syndecans as important integrators of membrane signaling (3). Syndecans undergo proteolytic cleavage causing the release of their extracellular domain (shedding), converting the membrane-bound proteins into soluble molecular effectors (4).

Syndecan 4 is expressed ubiquitously and is enriched in the focal adhesions of various adherent cell types (5). Syndecan 4 controls focal adhesion formation and regulates cell migration through interaction with Rho family GTPase and protein kinase C family members (6-11). Phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain is linked to ectodomain shedding of Syndecan 4, both of which contribute to the regulation of cytokinesis (12).