Structure/function relationships of axon-associated adhesion receptors of the immunoglobulin superfamily

T Brümmendorf1, F G Rathjen

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie,Tübingen, Germany. brue@mpib-tuebingen.mpg.de

Evidence is accumulating that axonal members of the Ig superfamily (IgSF) interact in a complex manner with other axonal Ig-like proteins and with proteins of the extracellular matrix. Studies investigating the structure/function relationships of these proteins have highlighted the importance of Ig-like domains near the amino terminus (N-proximal) as both necessary and sufficient for homophilic and heterophilic binding. Although efforts have been made in the past year to correlate the structure and neurite-outgrowth-promoting ability of axonal IgSF members, this work is still at an early stage.

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