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Updated: May 16, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
Published on: October 17, 2014
The role of cell adhesion molecules for navigating axons: density matters
G E Pollerberg1, K Thelen, M O Theiss
1Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Centre for Organismal Studies-COS, University of Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. G.E.Pollerberg@cos.uni-heidelberg.de
Abstract:
Cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin-super-family (IgSF-CAMs) do not only have a physical effect, mediating merely attachment between cell surfaces. For navigating axons, IgSF-CAMs also exert an instructive impact: Upon activation, they elicit intracellular signalling cascades in the tip of the axon, the growth cone, which regulate in a spatio-temporally concerted action both speed and direction of the axon. Density and distribution of IgSF-CAMs in the growth cone plasma membrane play important roles for the activation of IgSF-CAMs, their clustering, and the adhesive forces they acquire, as well as for the local restriction and effective propagation of their intracellular signals.
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