Syndecan-2 cytoplasmic domain regulates colon cancer cell migration via interaction with syntenin-1

► Syndecan-2 plays a pivotal role in colon cancer cell migration. ► Deletion of the EFYA sequence at the C-terminal of the cytoplasmic domain abolished syndecan-2-mediated cell migration and syndecan-2 interaction with syntenin-1. ► Syntenin-1 expression potentiated colon cancer cell migration induced by syndecan-2, and syndecan-2-mediated cell migration was reduced when syntenin-1 expression was diminished. ► Syndecan-2 cytoplasmic domain regulates colon cancer cell migration via interaction with syntenin-1. The cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, syndecan-2, is crucial for the tumorigenic activity of colon cancer cells. However, the role played by the cytoplasmic domain of the protein remains unclear. Using colon cancer cells transfected with various syndecan-2-encoding genes with deletions in the cytoplasmic domain, it was shown that syndecan-2-induced migration activity requires the EFYA sequence of the C-terminal region; deletion of these residues abolished the rise in cell migration seen when the wild-type gene was transfected and syndecan-2 interaction with syntenin-1, suggesting that syntenin-1 functioned as a cytosolic signal effector downstream from syndecan-2. Colon cancer cells transfected with the syntenin-1 gene showed increased migratory activity, whereas migration was decreased in cells in which syntenin-1 was knock-down using small inhibitory RNA. In addition, syntenin-1 expression potentiated colon cancer cell migration induced by syndecan-2, and syndecan-2-mediated cell migration was reduced when syntenin-1 expression diminished. However, syntenin-1-mediated migration enhancement was not noted in colon cancer cells transfected with a gene encoding a syndecan-2 mutant lacking the cytoplasmic domain. Furthermore, in line with the increase in cell migration, syntenin-1 mediated Rac activation stimulated by syndecan-2. Together, the data suggest that the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-2 regulates colon cancer cell migration via interaction with syntenin-1.