To investigate the biological functions of transmembrane proteoglycans we have produced clonal cell lines of rat Schwann cells that express the hybrid proteoglycan syndecan-1. This was done by transfection of newborn rat Schwann cells with a plasmid vector bearing the rat syndecan-1 cDNA sequence under transcriptional control of the constitutively active cytomegalovirus promoter, and a neomycin resistance gene. Stably expressing cells were selected by growth in G418. Expression of syndecan-1 was verified by Northern and immunoblot analysis and immunoprecipitation of 35SO4-labeled proteoglycans. The syndecan-1 expressing cells exhibited significantly enhanced spreading on several different substrata, including fibronectin and laminin, and an altered morphology. The enhanced spreading appeared to result from the presence of syndecan-1, based on the observation that anti-syndecan-1 antibodies inhibited the enhanced substratum spreading. There was also a reorganization of cytoskeletal structures and formation of focal adhesions, visualized by anti-vinculin staining, which were absent from control Schwann cells. There was no apparent stable association of cell surface syndecan-1 with focal contact sites, as determined by dual staining with anti-syndecan-1 and anti-vinculin antibodies. Colocalization of patches of cell surface syndecan-1 with actin was observed, but only during cell spreading. These findings provide evidence for a role of transmembrane proteoglycans in cellular morphogenesis, and suggest that transient association of syndecans with microfilaments may be an important aspect of their biological function.
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1 January 1994
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January 01 1994
Syndecan-1 expressed in Schwann cells causes morphological transformation and cytoskeletal reorganization and associates with actin during cell spreading
DJ Carey,
DJ Carey
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
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RC Stahl,
RC Stahl
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
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G Cizmeci-Smith,
G Cizmeci-Smith
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
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VK Asundi
VK Asundi
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
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DJ Carey
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
RC Stahl
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
G Cizmeci-Smith
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
VK Asundi
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
J Cell Biol (1994) 124 (1): 161–170.
Citation
DJ Carey, RC Stahl, G Cizmeci-Smith, VK Asundi; Syndecan-1 expressed in Schwann cells causes morphological transformation and cytoskeletal reorganization and associates with actin during cell spreading. J Cell Biol 1 January 1994; 124 (1): 161–170. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.124.1.161
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