title: Syndesmos, a protein that interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4, mediates cell spreading and actin cytoskeletal organization.
abstract: Syndecan-4 is a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan which, in cooperation with integrins, transduces signals for the assembly of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers in cells plated on fibronectin. The regulation of these cellular events is proposed to occur, in part, through the interaction of the cytoplasmic domains of these transmembrane receptors with intracellular proteins. To identify potential intracellular proteins that interact with the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4, we carried out a yeast two-hybrid screen in which the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4 was used as bait. As a result of this screen, we have identified a novel cellular protein that interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4 but not with those of the other three syndecan family members. The interaction involves both the membrane proximal and variable central regions of the cytoplasmic domain. We have named this cDNA and encoded protein syndesmos. Syndesmos is ubiquitously expressed and can be myristylated. Consistent with its myristylation and syndecan-4 association, syndesmos colocalizes with syndecan-4 in the ventral plasma membranes of cells plated on fibronectin. When overexpressed in NIH 3T3 cells, syndesmos enhances cell spreading, actin stress fiber and focal contact formation in a serum-independent manner.
authors.affiliation: Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Baciu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saoncella
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Denhez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leuthardt
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Goetinck
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D053671:Syndecan-4; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014162:Transfection; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; C508306:Sdc4 protein, mouse; D053671:Syndecan-4; C405385:syndesmos protein, mouse