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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Antibody Binding Specificity for Kappa (Vκ) Light Chain-containing Human (IgM) Antibodies: Polysialic Acid (PSA) Attached to NCAM as a Case Study
11:10

Antibody Binding Specificity for Kappa (Vκ) Light Chain-containing Human (IgM) Antibodies: Polysialic Acid (PSA) Attached to NCAM as a Case Study

Published on: June 29, 2016

Polysialylated NCAM represses E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion in pancreatic tumor cells

Susanne C Schreiber1, Klaudia Giehl, Caroline Kastilan

  • 1Institute of Zoology 2, University Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Gastroenterology
|April 4, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Oncogenic K-Ras induces polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), which disrupts E-cadherin adhesion. This promotes pancreatic tumor cell migration and metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Molecular Oncology

Background:

  • Tumor metastasis involves reduced epithelial cell-cell adhesion.
  • E-cadherin-mediated adherens junctions are crucial for cell adhesion.
  • Perturbation of E-cadherin is essential for tumor cell dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between PSA-NCAM and E-cadherin.
  • To determine the role of PSA-NCAM in pancreatic tumor cell invasion.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which K-Ras influences cell adhesion.

Main Methods:

  • Coimmunoprecipitation assays to study protein interactions.
  • Cell-cell aggregation and migration assays to assess invasion.
  • Enzymatic removal of PSA and siRNA to down-regulate PSA-transferases.

Main Results:

  • Oncogenic K-Ras induced PSA-NCAM expression in pancreatic cells, reducing E-cadherin adhesion.
  • PSA-NCAM association with E-cadherin correlated with decreased aggregation and increased migration.
  • PSA removal or reduced PSA-transferase expression restored cell adhesion and reduced migration.

Conclusions:

  • Oncogenic K-Ras induces PSA-NCAM, a novel mechanism reducing E-cadherin adhesion.
  • This process facilitates pancreatic tumor cell dissemination.
  • Targeting PSA-NCAM may offer therapeutic strategies for metastasis.

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