Syndecan is the family name of transmembrane proteoglycans that carry predominantly heparan sulfate side chains. This proteoglycan family consists of four members. N-syndecan (syndecan-3) is the principal member expressed during early postnatal development in both central and peripheral nervous systems. N-syndecan binds various heparin-binding growth factors such as FGFs via the heparan sulfate moiety, and communicates with the cytoskeleton via the cytoplasmic domain of the core protein. N-syndecan plays a pivotal role in formation of the neural network through these molecular interactions. This antibody recognizes effectively the core protein of N-syndecan.
References:
1) Watanabe, E., Matsui, F., Keino, H., Ono, K., Kushima, Y., Noda, H.. & Oohira, A., A membrane-bound heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is transiently expressed on growing axons in the rat brain, (1996) J. Neurosci. Res., 44, 84-96.
2) Toba, Y., Horie, M., Sango, K., Takashiki, A., Matsui, F., Oohira, A., & Kawano, H., Expression and immunohistochemical localization of heparan sulfate proteoglycan N-syndecan in the migratory pathway from the rat olfactory placode, (2002) Eur. J. Neurosci., 15, 1-13.
