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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
The neural cell adhesion molecule
V Berezin1, E Bock, F M Poulsen
1Protein Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Pathology, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. berezin@plab.ku.dk
Current Opinion in Drug Discovery & Development
|August 4, 2009
Summary
Recent advances reveal neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) structures and functions. New findings link NCAM homophilic adhesion to signal transduction pathways, influencing neurite outgrowth.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAMs) mediate cell-cell interactions crucial for neural development.
- Understanding NCAM structure and function is key to deciphering neural network formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent advancements in understanding neural cell adhesion.
- To highlight new structural insights into NCAM.
- To explore the functional implications of NCAM in cellular signaling and neurite outgrowth.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy for structural determination.
- Biochemical assays to investigate protein interactions.
- Cell-based assays to assess neurite outgrowth.
Main Results:
- Determination of the three-dimensional structures of individual NCAM modules.
- Elucidation of the complex structure formed by NCAM fragments.
- Proposed link between homophilic NCAM adhesion and signal transduction pathways.
- Demonstration of NCAM module-specific stimulation of neurite outgrowth.
Conclusions:
- Significant progress has been made in understanding NCAM structure and function.
- NCAM plays a critical role in connecting cell adhesion events to intracellular signaling.
- Targeting specific NCAM modules offers potential for modulating neural growth processes.
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