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Updated: May 21, 2026

Purification and Analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: March 31, 2020
Syndecan-syntenin-ALIX regulates the biogenesis of exosomes
Maria Francesca Baietti1, Zhe Zhang, Eva Mortier
1Laboratory for Glycobiology and Developmental Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KULeuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
The biogenesis of exosomes, small secreted vesicles involved in signalling processes, remains incompletely understood. Here, we report evidence that the syndecan heparan sulphate proteoglycans and their cytoplasmic adaptor syntenin control the formation of exosomes. Syntenin interacts directly with ALIX through LYPX(n)L motifs, similarly to retroviral proteins, and supports the intraluminal budding of endosomal membranes. Syntenin exosomes depend on the availability of heparan sulphate, syndecans, ALIX and ESCRTs, and impact on the trafficking and confinement of FGF signals. This study identifies a key role for syndecan-syntenin-ALIX in membrane transport and signalling processes.
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