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Syndecan from embryonic tooth mesenchyme binds tenascin
M Salmivirta1, K Elenius, S Vainio
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Turku, Finland.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|April 25, 1991
Summary
Syndecan, a cell surface proteoglycan, binds to tenascin in embryonic tooth mesenchyme. This interaction, mediated by heparan sulfate, is crucial for mesenchymal cell condensation and differentiation during organogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cell biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Syndecan is a proteoglycan rich in heparan sulfate, present on epithelial cells and embryonic mesenchymal tissues.
- It plays a role in cell surface interactions and extracellular matrix components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and function of syndecan in embryonic tooth mesenchyme.
- To characterize the interaction between syndecan and tenascin in this context.
Main Methods:
- Immunoisolation of syndecan from embryonic tooth mesenchyme.
- Size exclusion chromatography (Sepharose 4B) and Northern blot analysis for syndecan mRNA.
- Binding assays using immobilized matrix molecules to assess syndecan-tenascin interactions.
Main Results:
- Syndecan from tooth mesenchyme is a 250-300 kDa molecule with heparan sulfate side chains.
- High expression of syndecan mRNAs was detected in tooth germs and mesenchymes.
- Syndecan from tooth mesenchyme binds tenascin, mediated by its heparan sulfate chains.
- Syndecan from mammary epithelial cells showed weaker tenascin binding.
Conclusions:
- Syndecan and tenascin interactions are important in embryonic tooth mesenchyme.
- These interactions, mediated by heparan sulfate, likely play a role in mesenchymal cell condensation and differentiation during early organogenesis.