A model for non-viral gene delivery: through syndecan adhesion molecules and powered by actin

BACKGROUND: Cell transfection requires cationic DNA complexes and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) at the cell surface. Syndecans are transmembrane HSPGs that are ubiquitously expressed on adherent cells. Their polyanionic heparan sulfate moieties are bound at the distal end of their ectodomain, thus facilitating interaction with large cationic particles. METHODS: We propose a model for cell entry involving syndecans as receptors for the DNA complexes by comparing transfection with bacteria uptake and using drug inhibition experiments along with confocal microscopy. RESULTS: When combined with results from the literature, our data suggest the following sequence of events: after initial particle binding, gradual electrostatic zippering of the plasma membrane onto the particle is sustained by lateral diffusion of syndecan molecules that cluster into cholesterol-rich rafts. Clustering in turn triggers PKC activity and linker protein-mediated actin binding to the cytoplasmic tail of the syndecans. Resulting tension fibers and a growing network of cortical actin may then pull the particle into the cell. CONCLUSIONS: Diversion of integrin- and syndecan-mediated cell adhesion processes for particle engulfment appears to be widely exploited by animals (chylomicrons), by pathogens (bacteria, viruses) and, as suggested here, by non-viral vectors.     

Transcytosis of lipoprotein lipase across cultured endothelial cells requires both heparan sulfate proteoglycans and the very low density lipoprotein receptor

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the major enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of circulating lipoprotein triglyceride molecules, is synthesized in myocytes and adipocytes but functions while bound to heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on the luminal surface of vascular endothelial cells. This requires transfer of LPL from the abluminal side to the luminal side of endothelial cells. Studies were performed to investigate the mechanisms of LPL transcytosis using cultured monolayers of bovine aortic endothelial cells. We tested whether HSPGs and members of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor superfamily were involved in transfer of LPL from the basolateral to the apical side of cultured endothelial cells. Heparinase/heparinitase treatment of the basolateral cell surface or addition of heparin to the basolateral medium decreased the movement of LPL. This suggested a requirement for HSPGs. To assess the role of receptors, we used either receptor-associated protein, the 39-kDa inhibitor of ligand binding to the LDL receptor-related protein and the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor, or specific receptor antibodies. Receptor-associated protein reduced (125)I-LPL and LPL activity transfer across the monolayers. When the basolateral surface of the cells was treated with antibodies, only anti-VLDL receptor antibodies inhibited transcytosis. Moreover, overexpression of the VLDL receptor using adenoviral-mediated gene transfer increased LPL transcytosis. Thus, movement of active LPL across endothelial cells involves both HSPGs and VLDL receptor.     

Distinctive populations of basement membrane and cell membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans are produced by cultured cell lines

We have investigated the nature and distribution of different populations of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in several cell lines in culture. Clone 9 hepatocytes and NRK and CHO cells were biosynthetically labeled with 35SO4, and proteoglycans were isolated by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. Heterogeneous populations of HSPGs and chondroitin/dermatan proteoglycans (CSPGs) were found in the media and cell layer extracts of all cultures. HSPGs were further purified from the media and cell layers and separated from CSPGs by ion exchange chromatography after chondroitinase ABC digestion. In all cell types, HSPGs were found both in the cell layers (20-70% of the total) as well as the medium. When the purified HSPG fractions were further separated by octyl-Sepharose chromatography, very little HSPG in the incubation media bound to the octyl-Sepharose, whereas 40-55% of that in the cell layers bound and could be eluted with 1% Triton X-100. This hydrophobic population most likely consists of membrane-intercalated HSPGs. Basement membrane-type HSPGs were identified by immunoprecipitation as a component (30-80%) of the unbound (nonhydrophobic) HSPG fraction. By immunofluorescence, basement membrane-type HSPGs were distributed in a reticular network in Clone 9 and NRK cell monolayers; by immunoelectron microscopy, these HSPGs were localized to irregular clumps of extracellular matrix located beneath and between cells. The cells did not produce a morphologically recognizable basement membrane layer under these culture conditions. When membrane-associated HSPGs were localized by immunoelectron microscopy, they were found in a continuous layer along the cell membrane of all cell types. The results demonstrate that two antigenically distinct populations of HSPG--an extracellular matrix and a membrane-intercalated population--are found at the surface of several different cultured cells lines; these populations can be distinguished from one another by differences in their distribution in the monolayers by immunocytochemistry and can be separated by hydrophobic chromatography; and basement membrane-type HSPGs are secreted and deposited in the extracellular matrix by cultured cells even though they do not produce a bona fide basement membrane-like layer.     

Heparin II domain of fibronectin mediates contractility through an α4β1 co-signaling pathway

In the trabecular meshwork (TM) of the eye, regulation of tissue contractility by the PPRARI sequence within the Heparin II (HepII) domain of fibronectin is believed to control the movement of aqueous humor and dictate the level of intraocular pressure. This study shows that the HepII domain utilizes activated α4β1 integrin and collagen to mediate a co-signaling pathway that down-regulates contractility in TM cells. siRNA silencing of α4β1 integrin blocked the actin disrupting effects of both PPRARI and the HepII domain. The down-regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and contractility did not involve syndecan-4 or other heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) since siRNA silencing of syndecan-4 expression or heparitinase removal of cell surface HSPGs did not prevent the HepII-mediated disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. HepII-mediated disruption of the cytoskeleton depended upon the presence of collagen in the extracellular matrix, and cell binding studies indicated that HepII signaling involved cross-talk between α4β1 and α1/α2β1 integrins. This is the first time that the PPRARI sequence in the HepII domain has been shown to serve as a physiological α4β1 ligand, suggesting that α4β1 integrin may be a key regulator of tissue contractility.     

Proteoglycans synthesized by embryonic chicken retina in culture: composition and compartmentalization

Characteristics of the chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans (CS/DSPGs) and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) from retinas of 14-day chicken embryos were examined following specific lyase digestion of the HSPG and CS/DSPG glycosaminoglycans, respectively. On the basis of gel exclusion chromatography the prevalent CS/DSPGs in the tissue were above Mr 400 X 10(3) with two or three glycosaminoglycan chains of Mr 60-70 X 10(3). The HSPGs existed in two distinct populations in the tissue. Those in the dominant population appeared to be in the range of Mr 250-300 X 10(3) with 9 to 12 glycosaminoglycan chains of Mr 15-25 X 10(3). The other population consisted of free heparan sulfate chains of Mr 15-25 X 10(3). The HSPGs in the medium tended to be intermediate in size. To examine the distribution of proteoglycans, tissues were sequentially homogenized and extracted in saline and reextracted with 4 M guanidine HCl (GdnHCl) and Triton X-100 (TX), or they were washed in heparin solution and dissociated to single cells with trypsin before sequential extraction in saline and GdnHCl with TX. Through comparison of the results of these two extraction methods, CS/DSPGs were found to be almost entirely within the medium or matrix or loosely associated with the cell surface, and most HSPGs were associated with either the basal lamina or the plasma membrane. The single heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains appeared to be intracellular degradation products. These results support reports that CS/DSPGs may be present in the retina interphotoreceptor matrix and that HSPGs may be present in regions of synaptogenesis, associated with cell membranes.     

Effect of chlorate on the sulfation of lipoprotein lipase and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Sulfation of heparan sulfate proteoglycans affects lipoprotein lipase degradation

In avian-cultured adipocytes 76% of the newly synthesized lipoprotein lipase is degraded before release into the medium (Cupp, M., Bensadoun, A., and Melford, K. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 6383-6388). The same group (Cisar, L. A., Hoogewerf, A. J., Cupp, M., Rapport, C. A., and Bensadoun, A. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 1767-1774) has proposed that the interaction of lipoprotein lipase with a class of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans is necessary for degradation to occur. To test further this hypothesis, the binding capacity of the plasma membrane for the lipase was decreased by inhibiting the sulfation of glycosaminoglycans with sodium chlorate, an inhibitor of sulfate adenyltransferase. Chlorate decreased sulfate incorporation into trypsin-releasable heparan sulfate proteoglycans to 20% of control levels. The amount of uronic acid in the trypsin-releasable heparan sulfate proteoglycans remained constant. Therefore, chlorate decreased sulfation density on heparan sulfate chains by approximately 5-fold. In the same fractions, chlorate increased the median heparan sulfate Mr measured on Sephacryl S-300. Chlorate decreased the maximum binding of 125I-lipoprotein lipase to adipocytes by 4-fold, but no significant effects on the affinity constants were observed. Chlorate increased lipoprotein lipase secretion in a dose-dependent relationship up to 30 mM. Utilizing a pulse-chase protocol, it was shown that lipase synthesis in control and chlorate-treated cells was not significantly different and that the increased secretion could be accounted for by a decreased lipoprotein lipase degradation rate. In control cells 77 +/- 11% of the synthesized enzyme was degraded whereas in chlorate-treated cells degradation was reduced to 42 +/- 9% of the synthesized amount. The present study shows that decreased sulfation of heparan sulfate proteoglycans decreases the maximum binding of the lipase for the adipocyte cell surface. Consistent with the model that binding of lipoprotein lipase to cell surface heparan sulfate is required for lipase degradation, degradation is reduced in chlorate-treated cultures. In this report it is also shown that chlorate inhibits lipoprotein lipase sulfation and that desulfation of the enzyme has no effect on its catalytic efficiency or on its binding to cultured adipocytes.     

Perlecan heparan sulfate proteoglycan: a novel receptor that mediates a distinct pathway for ligand catabolism

Cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) participate in the catabolism of many physiologically important ligands. We previously reported that syndecan HSPGs directly mediate endocytosis, independent of coated pits. We now studied perlecan, a major cell surface HSPG genetically distinct from syndecans. Cells expressing perlecan but no other proteoglycans bound, internalized, and degraded atherogenic lipoproteins enriched in lipoprotein lipase. Binding was blocked by heparitinase, and degradation by chloroquine. Antibodies against beta(1) integrins reduced initial ligand binding, consistent with their roles as cell surface attachment sites for perlecan. By several criteria, catabolism via perlecan was distinct from either coated pits or the syndecan pathway. The kinetics of internalization (t(12) = 6 h) and degradation (t(12) approximately 18 h) were remarkably slow, unlike the other pathways. Blockade of the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein did not slow perlecan-dependent internalization. Internalization via perlecan was inhibited by genistein but unaffected by cytochalasin D, a pattern distinct from coated pits or syndecan-mediated endocytosis. Finally, we examined cooperation between perlecan and low density lipoprotein receptors and found limited synergy. Our results demonstrate that perlecan mediates internalization and lysosomal delivery that is kinetically and biochemically distinct from other known uptake pathways and is consistent with a very slow component of HSPG-dependent ligand processing found in vitro and in vivo.     

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are ligands for receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma

RPTPsigma is a cell adhesion molecule-like receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase involved in nervous system development. Its avian orthologue, known as cPTPsigma or CRYPalpha, promotes intraretinal axon growth and controls the morphology of growth cones. The molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of cPTPsigma are still to be determined, since neither its physiological ligand(s) nor its substrates have been described. Nevertheless, a major class of ligand(s) is present in the retinal basal lamina and glial endfeet, the potent native growth substrate for retinal axons. We demonstrate here that cPTPsigma is a heparin-binding protein and that its basal lamina ligands include the heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) agrin and collagen XVIII. These molecules interact with high affinity with cPTPsigma in vitro, and this binding is totally dependent upon their heparan sulfate chains. Using molecular modelling and site-directed mutagenesis, a binding site for heparin and heparan sulfate was identified in the first immunoglobulin-like domain of cPTPsigma. HSPGs are therefore a novel class of heterotypic ligand for cPTPsigma, suggesting that cPTPsigma signaling in axons and growth cones is directly responsive to matrix-associated cues.     

Cell surface proteoglycan associates with the cytoskeleton at the basolateral cell surface of mouse mammary epithelial cells

The cell surface proteoglycan on normal murine mammary gland mouse mammary epithelial cells consists of an ectodomain bearing heparan and chondroitin sulfate chains and a lipophilic domain that is presumed to be intercalated into the plasma membrane. Because the ectodomain binds to matrix components produced by stromal cells with specificity and high affinity, we have proposed that the cell surface proteoglycan is a matrix receptor that binds epithelial cells to their underlying basement membrane. We now show that the proteoglycan surrounds cells grown in subconfluent or newly confluent monolayers, but becomes restricted to the basolateral surface of cells that have been confluent for a week or more; Triton X-100 extraction distinguishes three fractions of cell surface proteoglycan: a fraction released by detergent and presumed to be free in the membrane, a fraction bound via a salt-labile linkage, and a nonextractable fraction; the latter two fractions co-localize with actin filament bundles at the basal cell surface; and when proteoglycans at the apical cell surface are cross- linked by antibodies, they initially assimilate into detergent- resistant, immobile clusters that are subsequently aggregated by the cytoskeleton. These findings suggest that the proteoglycan, initially present on the entire surface and free in the plane of the membrane, becomes sequestered at the basolateral cell surface and bound to the actin-rich cytoskeleton as the cells become polarized in vitro. Binding of matrix components may cross-link proteoglycans at the basal cell surface and cause them to associate with the actin cytoskeleton, providing a mechanism by which the cell surface proteoglycan acts as a matrix receptor to stabilize the morphology of epithelial sheets.     

Loss of HSulf-1 up-regulates heparin-binding growth factor signaling in cancer

Emerging data suggest that signaling by heparin-binding growth factors is influenced by the sulfation state of N-acetylglucosamine residues of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). Here we report that the recently identified protein HSulf-1, a heparin-degrading endosulfatase, encodes a cell surface-associated enzyme that diminishes sulfation of cell surface HSPGs. The message encoding this enzyme is readily detectable in a variety of normal tissues, including normal ovarian surface epithelial cells, but is undetectable in 5 of 7 ovarian carcinoma cell lines and markedly diminished or undetectable in approximately 75% of ovarian cancers. Similar down-regulation is also observed in breast, pancreatic, renal cells, and hepatocellular carcinoma lines. Re-expression of HSulf-1 in ovarian cancer cell lines resulted in diminished HSPG sulfation, diminished phosphorylation of receptor tyrosine kinases that require sulfated HSPGs as co-receptors for their cognate ligands, and diminished downstream signaling through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway after treatment with fibroblast growth factor-2 or heparin-binding epidermal growth factor. Consistent with these changes, HSulf-1 re-expression resulted in reduced proliferation as well as sensitivity to induction of apoptosis by the broad spectrum kinase inhibitor staurosporine and the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Collectively, these observations provide evidence that HSulf-1 modulates signaling by heparin-binding growth factors, and HSulf-1 down-regulation represents a novel mechanism by which cancer cells can enhance growth factor signaling.     

Structural Properties of the Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans of Brain

The heparan sulfate proteoglycans present in a deoxycholate extract of rat brain were purified by ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography on lipoprotein lipase agarose, and gel filtration. Heparitinase treatment of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan fraction (containing 86% heparan sulfate and 10% chondroitin sulfate) that was eluted from the lipoprotein lipase affinity column with 1 M NaCl led to the appearance of a major protein core with a molecular size of 55,000 daltons, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison of the effects of heparinase and heparitinase treatment revealed that the heparan sulfate proteoglycans of brain contain a significant proportion of relatively short N-sulfoglucosaminyl 6-O-sulfate [or N-sulfoglucosaminyl](alpha 1-4)iduronosyl 2-O-sulfate(alpha 1-4) repeating units and that the portions of the heparan sulfate chains in the vicinity of the carbohydrate-protein linkage region are characterized by the presence of D-glucuronic acid rather than L-iduronic acid. After chondroitinase treatment of a proteoglycan fraction that contained 62% chondroitin sulfate and 21% heparan sulfate (eluted from lipoprotein lipase with 0.4 M NaCl), the charge and density of a portion of the heparan sulfate-containing proteoglycans decreased significantly. These results indicate that a population of "hybrid" brain proteoglycans exists that contain both chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate chains covalently linked to a common protein core.     

Participation of syndecan 2 in the induction of stress fiber formation in cooperation with integrin alpha5beta1: structural characteristics of heparan sulfate chains with avidity to COOH-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin

The present study provides direct evidence that syndecan 2 participates selectively in the induction of stress fiber formation in cooperation with integrin alpha5beta1 through specific binding of its heparan sulfate side chains to the fibronectin substrate. Our previous study with Lewis lung carcinoma-derived P29 cells demonstrated that the cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, which binds to fibronectin, is syndecan 2 (N. Itano et al., 1996, Biochem. J. 315, 925-930). We here report that in vitro treatment of the cells by antisense oligonucleotide for syndecan 2 resulted in a failure to form stress fibers on fibronectin substrate in association with specific suppression of its cell surface expression. Instead, localization of actin filaments in the cytoplasmic cortex occurred. A similar response of the cells was observed when the cells were treated to eliminate functions of cell surface heparan sulfates, including exogenous addition of heparin and pretreatment with anti-heparan sulfate antibody, F58-10E4, and with proteinase-free heparitinase I. Size- and structure-defined oligosaccharides prepared from heparin and chemically modified heparins were utilized as competitive inhibitors to examine the structural characteristics of the cell surface heparan sulfates involved in organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Their affinity chromatography on a column linked with a recombinant H-271 peptide containing a C-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin demonstrated that 2-O-sulfated iduronates were essential for the binding. Inhibition studies revealed that a heparin-derived dodecasaccharide sample enriched with an IdoA(2OS)-GlcNS(6OS) disaccharide completely blocked binding of the syndecan 2 ectodomain to immobilized H-271 peptide. Finally, the dodecasaccharide sample was shown to inhibit stress fiber formation, triggered by adhesion of P29 cells to a CH-271 polypeptide consisting of both the RGD cell-binding and the C-terminal heparin-binding domains of fibronectin in a fused form. All these results consistently suggest that syndecan 2 proteoglycan interacts with the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin at the highly sulfated cluster(s), such as [IdoA(2OS)-GlcNS(6OS)](6) present in its heparan sulfate chains, to result in the induction of stress fiber formation in cooperation with integrin alpha5beta1.     

Heparan Sulfate Biosynthesis: Regulation and Variability

Nearly all vertebrate cells have been shown to express heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) at the cell surface. The HSPGs bind to many secreted signaling proteins, including numerous growth factors, cytokines, and morphogens, to affect their tissue distribution and signaling. The heparan sulfate (HS) chains may have variable length and may differ with regard to both degree and pattern of sulfation. As the sulfation pattern of HS chains in most cases will determine if an interaction with a potential ligand will take place, as well as the affinity of the interaction, a key to understanding the function of HSPGs is to clarify how HS biosynthesis is regulated in different biological contexts. This review provides an introduction to the current understanding of HS biosynthesis and its regulation, and identifies research areas where more knowledge is needed to better understand how the HS biosynthetic machinery works.     

Internalization and stepwise degradation of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in rat hepatocytes.

Intracellular transport and degradation of membrane anchored heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) were studied in cultured rat hepatocytes labeled with [35S]sulfate and [3H]glucosamine. Pulse chase experiments showed that membrane anchored HSPGs were constitutively transported to the cell surface after completion of polymerization and modification of the glycosaminoglycan chains in the Golgi apparatus. The intact HSPGs had a relatively short residence time at the cell surface and in non-degrading compartments (T(1/2) approximately 2-3 h), while [35S]sulfate labeled degradation products were found in lysosomes, and to a lesser extent in late endosomes. These degradation products which were free heparan sulfate chains with little or no protein covalently attached, were approximately half the size of the original glycosaminoglycan chains and were the only degradation intermediate found in the course of HSPG catabolism in these cells. In cells incubated in the presence of the microtubule perturbant vinblastine, or in the presence of the vacuolar ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1, and in cells incubated at 19 degrees C, the endocytosed HSPGs were retained in endosomes and no degradation products were detected. Disruption of lysosomes with glycyl-phenylalanine 2-naphthylamide (GPN) revealed a GPN resistant degradative compartment with both intact and partially degraded HSPGs. This compartment probably corresponds to late endosomes. Treatment of hepatocytes with the thiol protease inhibitor leupeptin inhibited the final degradation of the protein moiety of the HSPGs. The protein portion seems to be degraded completely before the glycosaminoglycan chains are cleaved. The degradation of the glycosaminoglycan chains is rapid and complete with one observable intermediate.     

Artemin crystal structure reveals insights into heparan sulfate binding

Artemin (ART) promotes the growth of developing peripheral neurons by signaling through a multicomponent receptor complex comprised of a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor (cRET) and a specific glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked co-receptor (GFRalpha3). Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) signals through a similar ternary complex but requires heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) for full activity. HSPG has not been demonstrated as a requirement for ART signaling. We crystallized ART in the presence of sulfate and solved its structure by isomorphous replacement. The structure reveals ordered sulfate anions bound to arginine residues in the pre-helix and amino-terminal regions that were organized in a triad arrangement characteristic of heparan sulfate. Three residues in the pre-helix were singly or triply substituted with glutamic acid, and the resulting proteins were shown to have reduced heparin-binding affinity that is partly reflected in their ability to activate cRET. This study suggests that ART binds HSPGs and identifies residues that may be involved in HSPG binding.     

Optimal inhibition of X4 HIV isolates by the CXC chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha requires interaction with cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans

The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) is the natural ligand for CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). SDF-1 inhibits infection of CD4+ cells by X4 (CXCR4-dependent) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) strains. We previously showed that SDF-1 alpha interacts specifically with heparin or heparan sulfates (HSs). Herein, we delimited the boundaries of the HS-binding domain located in the first beta-strand of SDF-1 alpha as the critical residues. We also provide evidence that binding to cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) determines the capacity of SDF-1 alpha to prevent the fusogenic activity of HIV-1 X4 isolates in leukocytes. Indeed, SDF-1 alpha mutants lacking the capacity to interact with HSPGs showed a substantially reduced capacity to prevent cell-to-cell fusion mediated by X4 HIV envelope glycoproteins. Moreover, the enzymatic removal of cell surface HS diminishes the HIV-inhibitory capacity of the chemokine to the levels shown by the HS-binding-disabled mutant counterparts. The mechanisms underlying the optimal HIV-inhibitory activity of SDF-1 alpha when attached to HSPGs were investigated. Combining fluorescence resonance energy transfer and laser confocal microscopy, we demonstrate the concomitant binding of SDF-1 alpha to CXCR4 and HSPGs at the cell membrane. Using FRET between a Texas Red-labeled SDF-1 alpha and an enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged CXCR4, we show that binding of SDF-1 alpha to cell surface HSPGs modifies neither the kinetics of occupancy nor activation in real time of CXCR4 by the chemokine. Moreover, attachment to HSPGs does not modify the potency of the chemokine to promote internalization of CXCR4. Attachment to cellular HSPGs may co-operate in the optimal anti-HIV activity of SDF-1 alpha by increasing the local concentration of the chemokine in the surrounding environment of CXCR4, thus facilitating sustained occupancy and down-regulation of the HIV coreceptor.     

Synthesis by Schwann cells of basal lamina and membrane-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycans

Primary cultures that contain only Schwann cells and sensory nerve cells synthesize basal lamina. The assembly of this basal lamina appears to be essential for normal Schwann cell development. In this study, we demonstrate that Schwann cells synthesize two major heparan sulfate-containing proteoglycans. Both proteoglycans band in dissociative CsCl gradients at densities less than 1.4 g/ml, and therefore, presumably, have relatively low carbohydrate-to-protein ratios. The larger of these proteoglycans elutes from Sepharose CL-4B in 4 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) at a Kav of 0.21 and contains heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains of Mr 21,000 in a ratio of approximately 3:1. This proteoglycan is extracted from cultures by 4 M GuHCl but not Triton X-100 and accumulates only when Schwann cells are actively synthesizing basal lamina. The smaller proteoglycan elutes from Sepharose CL-4B at a Kav of 0.44 and contains heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains of Mr 18,000 in a ratio of approximately 4:1. This proteoglycan is extracted by 4 M GuHCl or by Triton X-100. The accumulation of this proteoglycan is independent of basal lamina production.     

Syndecan recycling [corrected] is controlled by syntenin-PIP2 interaction and Arf6

Syndecans are heparan sulfate proteoglycans that modulate the activity of several growth factors and cell adhesion molecules. PDZ domains in the adaptor protein syntenin interact with syndecans and with the phosphoinositide PIP(2), which is involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and membrane trafficking. Here, we show that the syntenin PDZ domain-PIP(2) interaction controls Arf6-mediated syndecan recycling through endosomal compartments. FGF receptor accompanies syndecan along the syntenin-mediated recycling pathway, in a heparan sulfate- and FGF-dependent manner. Syndecans that cannot recycle via this pathway become trapped intracellularly and inhibit cell spreading. This syntenin-mediated syndecan recycling pathway may regulate the surface availability of a number of cell adhesion and signaling molecules.