title: Functional expression of a full-length cDNA coding for rat neural cell adhesion molecule L1 mediates homophilic intercellular adhesion and migration of cerebellar neurons.
abstract: Neural cell adhesion molecule L1 is postulated to be involved in cell-cell interaction, neurite elongation, fasciculation of axons, cell migration, and myelination. To determine the function of L1 directly, we have transfected rat L1 cDNA into mouse fibroblast L cells. Stable transformants expressing L1 showed uniform surface expression of the molecule without phenotypic changes. Dispersed L1-expressing transfectants aggregated with faster kinetics than control cells in a homophilic manner. Divalent cations were not required for this cell aggregation. L1-transfected cells markedly enhanced neuronal cell adhesion and migration in co-culture with rat cerebellar neurons. These results indicate that L1 is involved in a determinant step of neural development through molecular interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uyemura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002465:Cell Movement; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007739:L Cells; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010957:Plasmids; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D004247:DNA