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Related Experiment Videos

Human heparanase nuclear localization and enzymatic activity.

Shay Y Schubert1, Neta Ilan, Moran Shushy

  • 1Cancer and Vascular Biology Research Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.

Laboratory Investigation; a Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology
|March 23, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Human heparanase (endo-beta-D-glucuronidase) translocates into the nucleus, where it degrades nuclear heparan sulfate. This nuclear activity suggests novel roles beyond cancer metastasis, potentially in gene regulation.

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Correction: Tumor- and host-derived heparanase-2 (Hpa2) attenuates tumorigenicity: role of Hpa2 in macrophage polarization and BRD7 nuclear localization.

Cell death & disease·2025

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Human heparanase (endo-beta-D-glucuronidase) is typically found in lysosomes and endosomes.
  • Previous studies noted potential nuclear localization sequences in human heparanase.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the translocation of human heparanase into the cell nucleus.
  • To determine if nuclear heparanase is enzymatically active and degrades nuclear heparan sulfate.

Main Methods:

  • Cell fractionation
  • Western blot analysis
  • Heparanase activity assays
  • Confocal microscopy
  • Immunohistochemistry

Main Results:

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  • Heparanase was identified within the nuclei of human glioma and breast carcinoma cells.
  • Nuclear heparanase colocalizes with nuclear heparan sulfate and exhibits enzymatic activity.
  • Uptake of latent heparanase resulted in active nuclear heparanase capable of degrading heparan sulfate.
  • Immunohistochemistry confirmed nuclear heparanase in tumor cells but not stromal cells.

Conclusions:

  • Heparanase translocates to the nucleus and degrades nuclear heparan sulfate.
  • Nuclear heparanase may influence nuclear functions regulated by heparan sulfate.
  • This nuclear localization suggests non-traditional roles for heparanase in gene expression and signal transduction.