Epiphycan (EPYC)

Epiphycan (EPYC) is a small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan (type III SLRP) encoded by the EPYC gene and primarily localized in the extracellular matrix of skeletal and connective tissues such as cartilage, growth plates, and ligaments. It is involved in collagen fibril formation and extracellular matrix assembly, influencing tissue development, repair, and mechanical properties. EPYC binds to collagen and other extracellular matrix components, regulating fibrillogenesis and tissue integrity. In cartilage, it maintains matrix stability and normal fibrillogenesis, with altered abundance leading to abnormal architecture. High expression of EPYC has been demonstrated in metastatic and advanced ovarian cancer, correlating with enhanced migration, invasion, and proliferation of cancer cells; silencing EPYC impairs these malignant behaviors, indicating a potential role as a metastasis-promoting factor in some cancers. EPYC also interacts with signaling pathways (such as PI3K/Akt and focal adhesion) and growth factors (like TGF-β and BMPs), contributing to diverse regulatory effects in tissue repair and regeneration. Loss or dysregulation of EPYC function can contribute to diseases such as corneal dystrophy, osteoarthritis, and possibly hearing impairment. There are currently no known drugs directly targeting EPYC, and its main significance lies in tissue biology, disease associations, and emerging biomarker roles in cancer.

Other names

Dermatan sulfate proteoglycan 3DSPG3SLRR3BPG-LbPGLBSmall chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycanepiphycan proteoglycanproteoglycan-Lb