Characterization of regulation of the syndecan-2 expression in melanoma.

• Applicant: Dr. Diana Wolf
• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: from 2013 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 240833252

Syndecan-2 (SDC2) is a member of the protein family of proteoglycans. It is involved in a variety of physiologic and biologic functions such as cell to cell interaction, migration, proliferation, angiogenesis as well as intracellular signal transduction and cytoskeleton assembly. Over-expression of membrane associated and shedded soluble SDC2 was observed in melanoma as well as in tumour lesions and in sera of cancer patients. First own data showed a heterogeneous SDC2 expression in melanoma cell lines, which appeared to be regulated by diverse mechanisms. However, the molecular mechanism of regulation of SDC2 expression is poor understood. Preliminary data showed two epigenetic regulation mechanisms by DNA-methylation and histonacetylation. This could be observed in a few melanoma cell lines and indicate more regulation mechanism like microRNAs are involved in regulation of SDC2 expression. The project proposal will characterise the epigenetic and posttranscriptional regulation of SDC2 expression. The study will contribute to a better understanding of SDC2 expression in melanoma and its relevance as a novel potential tumour marker.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants