Abstract

Syndecan-4 is a ubiquitous transmembrane proteoglycan that localizes to the focal adhesions of adherent cells and binds to a range of extracellular ligands, including growth factors and extracellular-matrix proteins. Engagement of syndecan-4 is essential for adhesion formation in cells adhering via certain integrins, and for cell proliferation and migration in response to growth factors. The cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4 interacts with a number of signalling and structural proteins, and both extracellular and cytoplasmic domains are necessary for regulated activation of associated transmembrane receptors. PDZ domain-containing scaffold proteins (syntenin and CASK) bind to the C-terminus of the syndecan-4 cytoplasmic domain and co-ordinate clustering of receptors and connection to the actin cytoskeleton. Syndecan-4 also binds and activates protein kinase Calpha in the presence of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, and regulates signalling by Rho-family GTPases and focal adhesion kinase. This review discusses the cytoplasmic interactions of syndecan-4 and how they affect cell behaviour as a consequence of the interaction with extracellular ligands. These conclusions also offer an insight into the role of syndecan-4 in vivo, and are consistent with phenotypes generated as a consequence of abnormal syndecan-4 expression in pathologies and gene disruption studies.