Syndecan-4 is a member of the syndecan family of type I transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). These proteins are integral components of the cell surface and play crucial roles in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Syndecan-4, in particular, is encoded by the SDC4 gene in humans and has a molecular weight of approximately 20 kDa .
Syndecan-4 consists of an extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain. The extracellular domain is capable of carrying heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans, which are essential for its function in binding to various ligands, including growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix components . The cytoplasmic domain contains conserved regions that are crucial for signal transduction and interaction with the cytoskeleton .
Syndecan-4 is involved in a variety of biological processes, including:
Recombinant Syndecan-4 is utilized in several research areas: