Abstract
Syndecan-4 (Syn4), a single-pass transmembrane heparin sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG), plays significant role in the formation of focal adhesions and interacts with many growth factors to regulate cell migration and neural induction. Here, we show the new roles of syndecan-4(syn4) in zebrafish embryonic neurogenesis. Syn4 is broadly and dynamically expressed throughout the early stages of embryonic development. Knockdown of syn4 increases the expression of the marker genes of multiple types of neural cells. The increased expression of the marker genes is resulted from excessive proliferation of the neural cells. In addition, disrupting syn4 expression results in truncated and multiple aberrant branching of caudal primary (CaP) axons. Collectively, these data indicate that Syn4 suppresses the cellular proliferation during neurogenesis and is crucial for the formation of CaP axons during zebrafish embryogenesis.
Highlights
Syndecan-4 (Syn4), a single-pass transmembrane heparin sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG), plays significant role in the formation of focal adhesions and interacts with many growth factors to regulate cell migration and neural induction
They function as co-regulators of many growth factors that are associated with neural fate, including FGF, HGF, Wnt, TGFβ and BMP2–5, indicating PGs act as important modulators during neural development
Since syn[4] was expressed in neural tissues and required for neural crest migration, we investigated whether syn[4] was involved in the embryonic neurogenesis
Summary
Syndecan-4 (Syn4), a single-pass transmembrane heparin sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG), plays significant role in the formation of focal adhesions and interacts with many growth factors to regulate cell migration and neural induction. Disrupting syn[4] expression results in truncated and multiple aberrant branching of caudal primary (CaP) axons These data indicate that Syn[4] suppresses the cellular proliferation during neurogenesis and is crucial for the formation of CaP axons during zebrafish embryogenesis. Recent observations demonstrate that syn[4] is required for neural induction involving in FGF/ERK and PKCγ /Rac/JNK pathway[15] and Wnt/PCP pathway to control the neural tube closure in mammalian embryos[14] All these data show the important roles of syn[4] in embryonic neurogenesis. The length of CaP axon was severely reduced and the number of axonal branches was significantly increased as the expression of syn[4] was down-regulated Taken together, these results indicate that syn[4] suppresses the proliferation of neural cells and is crucial for the formation of CaP axons
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
