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Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

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

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

This summary is machine-generated.

Recent advances reveal neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) structures and functions. New findings link NCAM homophilic adhesion to signal transduction pathways, influencing neurite outgrowth.

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Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

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

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

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System

Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System

Published on: May 22, 2020

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.