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Related Concept Videos

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

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 Functions01:20

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 Functions01:20

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...
Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions01:24

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...
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

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: May 24, 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

Synaptic cell adhesion molecules.

Olena Bukalo1, Alexander Dityatev

  • 1National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. bukalool@mail.nih.gov

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|February 22, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are crucial for building and maintaining neuronal connections. These molecules guide synaptic development, function, and plasticity in the brain.

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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
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Static Adhesion Assay for the Study of Integrin Activation in T Lymphocytes
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Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
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Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Synaptic connections form during nervous system development after axon pathfinding.
  • Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are essential for initiating and regulating synaptic differentiation.
  • CAMs interact with intracellular and extracellular scaffolds to organize synaptic structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight major classes of synaptic CAMs.
  • To elucidate the multiple functions of synaptic CAMs.
  • To describe the concerted interactions between CAMs and other synaptic components.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on synaptic CAMs.
  • Analysis of molecular interactions at pre- and postsynaptic sites.
  • Examination of CAMs' roles in synaptic development, function, and plasticity.

Main Results:

  • CAMs accumulate at synaptic sites, triggering differentiation by interacting with scaffolds.
  • These interactions align transduction machinery and link adhesion sites to the cytoskeleton.
  • In mature brains, CAMs regulate synaptic efficacy and plasticity via direct receptor/channel interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Synaptic CAMs are critical for establishing and refining neuronal connections throughout life.
  • Their diverse functions underscore their importance in nervous system development and function.
  • Understanding CAM interactions provides insights into synaptic plasticity and neurological disorders.