Syndecan 4 interacts genetically with Vangl2 to regulate neural tube closure and planar cell polarity

Development. 2013 Jul;140(14):3008-17. doi: 10.1242/dev.091173. Epub 2013 Jun 12.

Abstract

Syndecan 4 (Sdc4) is a cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) that regulates gastrulation, neural tube closure and directed neural crest migration in Xenopus development. To determine whether Sdc4 participates in Wnt/PCP signaling during mouse development, we evaluated a possible interaction between a null mutation of Sdc4 and the loop-tail allele of Vangl2. Sdc4 is expressed in multiple tissues, but particularly in the non-neural ectoderm, hindgut and otic vesicles. Sdc4;Vangl2(Lp) compound mutant mice have defective spinal neural tube closure, disrupted orientation of the stereocilia bundles in the cochlea and delayed wound healing, demonstrating a strong genetic interaction. In Xenopus, co-injection of suboptimal amounts of Sdc4 and Vangl2 morpholinos resulted in a significantly greater proportion of embryos with defective neural tube closure than each individual morpholino alone. To probe the mechanism of this interaction, we overexpressed or knocked down Vangl2 function in HEK293 cells. The Sdc4 and Vangl2 proteins colocalize, and Vangl2, particularly the Vangl2(Lp) mutant form, diminishes Sdc4 protein levels. Conversely, Vangl2 knockdown enhances Sdc4 protein levels. Overall HSPG steady-state levels were regulated by Vangl2, suggesting a molecular mechanism for the genetic interaction in which Vangl2(Lp/+) enhances the Sdc4-null phenotype. This could be mediated via heparan sulfate residues, as Vangl2(Lp/+) embryos fail to initiate neural tube closure and develop craniorachischisis (usually seen only in Vangl2(Lp/Lp)) when cultured in the presence of chlorate, a sulfation inhibitor. These results demonstrate that Sdc4 can participate in the Wnt/PCP pathway, unveiling its importance during neural tube closure in mammalian embryos.

Keywords: Neural tube defects; Proteoglycans; Wnt planar cell polarity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Polarity*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hair Cells, Auditory / metabolism
  • Heparitin Sulfate / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neural Tube / cytology*
  • Neural Tube / metabolism
  • Neural Tube Defects / metabolism
  • Syndecan-4 / genetics
  • Syndecan-4 / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • Wound Healing
  • Xenopus

Substances

  • Ltap protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Sdc4 protein, mouse
  • Syndecan-4
  • Heparitin Sulfate