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Syndecan, a cell surface proteoglycan, exhibits a molecular polymorphism during lung development.
J H Brauker1, M S Trautman, M Bernfield
1Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine.
Developmental Biology
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Syndecan, a cell surface proteoglycan, changes structure during embryonic mouse lung development. Its glycosaminoglycan chains shorten, potentially altering its function in lung morphogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Syndecan is a cell surface proteoglycan involved in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions crucial for embryonic lung development.
- Proteoglycan synthesis is essential for lung branching morphogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of syndecan in embryonic mouse lung development.
- To examine the structural and distributional changes of syndecan during lung development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized monoclonal antibody 281-2 for histology, immunopurification, and Western blots on embryonic mouse lungs (Day 12-18).
- Analyzed syndecan localization, core protein mass, and glycosaminoglycan chain size.
Main Results:
- Syndecan localization shifts from epithelial and mesenchymal cells to predominantly epithelial cells by Day 14, and remains on airway epithelia by Day 18.
- Syndecan's relative mass decreases from Day 12 to Day 18 due to a reduction in heparan sulfate chain size.
- Newly synthesized syndecan reflects the overall mass, indicating developmental changes in syndecan synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Syndecan undergoes significant structural alterations, specifically a reduction in glycosaminoglycan chain size, during embryonic lung development.
- These changes in syndecan structure may impact its function in mediating epithelial-mesenchymal interactions essential for lung morphogenesis.