Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
10:41
Using a GFP-tagged TMEM184A Construct for Confirmation of Heparin Receptor Identity
Published on: February 17, 2017
Heparanase involvement in physiology and disease
1Department of Oncology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. nicola.nasser@gmail.com
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
|April 22, 2008
Summary
Heparanase, an enzyme degrading heparan sulfate, plays roles in normal physiology and diseases like cancer. Its overexpression in tumors indicates potential as an anti-cancer therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Heparanase is an endoglycosidase enzyme.
- It degrades heparan sulfate (HS) found on cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix.
- Heparanase is involved in physiological processes such as embryo development, hair growth, and wound healing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of heparanase in various pathologies.
- To evaluate heparanase as a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme activity assays to study heparanase function.
- Analysis of heparanase expression levels in different disease models.
- Literature review on heparanase's involvement in pathologies.
Main Results:
- Heparanase is implicated in tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, inflammation, and glomerular diseases.
- Overexpression of heparanase is observed in various malignant tumors.
Conclusions:
- Heparanase's enzymatic activity and involvement in pathological processes highlight its significance.
- Targeting heparanase presents a promising strategy for anti-cancer therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
01:21Paracrine Signaling
Paracrine signaling allows cells to communicate with their immediate neighbors via secretion of signaling molecules. Such a signal can only trigger a response in nearby target cells because the signal molecules degrade quickly or are inactivated if not taken up. Prominent examples of paracrine signaling include nitric oxide signaling in blood vessels, synaptic signaling of neurons, the blood clotting system, tissue repair/wound healing, and local allergic skin reactions. Nitric oxide as a...
01:27Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
01:05Proteoglycans
Glycans, a class of complex heterogeneous molecules, can be covalently attached to proteins to form glycosylated proteins that regulate various physiological and pathological processes. Glycosylated proteins or glycoproteins comprise N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides. O-glycosylation is the most common type of protein glycosylation. Here, glycans attach to the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl groups of Serine or Threonine residues. O-linked glycosylation occurs later in protein processing,...
01:20Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence
Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...