Elucidation of the function of heparan sulfate in GPC4 as a selective Wnt signal regulator

• Project/Area Number: 25840032
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Functional biochemistry
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: TOMOYUKI KANEIWA 大阪大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 招へい研究員 (60647519)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000)
• Keywords: Wnt / グリピカン / ヘパラン硫酸 / wnt

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Wnt plays important role in many cell functions through multiple wnt signaling pathways. However, how the multiple signaling pathways are selectively regulated is not clear. Previously our results showed that glypican (GPC)4 was involved in the wnt signaling pathways selectively. Therefore, in this research, the selective activation mechanisms of wnt signaling pathways by GPC4 were investigated. The results showed that GPC4 regulated wnt signaling pathways through heparan sulfate (HS) side chains. The HS dissacharide compositions were not important but the length of HS chain is seems to be crucial for the regulation of wnt signaling pathways by GPC4.