Abstract
The members of the Syndecan family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans play diverse roles in cell adhesion and cell communication by serving as co-receptors for both cell-signaling and extracellular matrix molecules. Syndecan-2 has been implicated in the formation of specialized membrane domains and functions as a direct link between the extracellular environment and the organization of the cortical cytoplasm. Recent studies have shown that syndecan-2 is required for angiogenesis, possibly by serving as a co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor, and cell-to-cell signaling during development of left-right asymmetry. This unique combination of activities suggests that syndecan-2 can function as a potential drug target for the development of multi-functional, anti-cancer therapeutics.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 152-156 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2006 |
Keywords
- Angiogenesis
- Cell adhesion
- Cell signaling
- Syndecan-2
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology