Syndecans and angiogenesis

Abstract

The invention provides methods and materials related to modulating syndecan levels and angiogenesis in an animal. The invention provides syndecan polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding syndecan polypeptides, including dominant negative syndecan polypeptides. The invention also provides polynucleotides and polynucleotide analogues for modulating angiogenesis, as well as cells and embryos containing the polynucleotides and polynucleotide analogues. The invention further provides methods for identifying syndecan- and angiogenesis-modulating agents.

1 . A method for inhibiting angiogenesis in a vertebrate, said method comprising administering to said vertebrate an effective amount of a cytoplasmically truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide is a dominant negative Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide comprises amino acids 1 to 193 of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         4 . A method for inhibiting angiogenesis in a vertebrate, said method comprising administering to said vertebrate an effective amount of a nucleic acid comprising a sequence that encodes a cytoplasmically truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said construct is expressed in said vertebrate to produce said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide is a dominant negative Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide comprises amino acids 1 to 193 of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         8 . A method for killing a tumor cell, said method comprising contacting said tumor cell with a cytoplasmically truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said contacting comprises administering to said tumor cell a nucleic acid comprising a sequence that encodes said cytoplasmically truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said construct is expressed in said tumor cell to produce said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide is a dominant negative Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide comprises amino acids 1 to 193 of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said tumor cell is present in a breast tumor, a lung tumor, or a prostate tumor.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising monitoring the size of said tumor.  
     
     
         15 . A method for inhibiting tumor growth, said method comprising contacting said tumor with a cytoplasmically truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said contacting comprises administering to said tumor a nucleic acid comprising a sequence that encodes said cytoplasmically truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said construct is expressed in said a cell of said tumor to produce said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide is a dominant negative Syndecan-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said truncated Syndecan-2 polypeptide comprises amino acids 1 to 193 of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said tumor cell is present in a breast tumor, a lung tumor, or a prostate tumor.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising monitoring the size of said tumor.