Syndecan-2 was found to detach from RACK1 and associate with caveolin-2 and Ras in cells transformed with oncogenic ras. Most of syndecan-2 from transformed cells was revealed with negligible phosphorylations at tyrosine residues. We experimented with HeLa cells transfected with plasmids encoding syndecan-2 and its mutants (syndecan-2(Y180F), syndecan-2(Y192F), and syndecan-2(Y180,192F)) to provide evidences that PY180 of syndecan-2 is a binding site for RACK1 and is deprived in cells transfected with oncogenic ras. However, in HeLa cells transfected with syndecan-2(Y180F), RACK1 was found to sustain its reactions with syndecan-2 independent of phosphorylation. The finding of syndecan-2 reactive with caveolin-2/Ras suggests the molecular complex most likely to obstruct RACK1 for functional attachment at syndecan-2, as revealed in cells transfected with oncogenic ras. We provided evidences to reinforce the view that molecular rearrangements upon transformation are specific and interesting. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.