title: Release of the 120 kDa component of the mouse neural cell adhesion molecule N-CAM from cell surfaces by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.
abstract: To study the membrane anchoring of the 120 kDa component of the neural cell adhesion molecule N-CAM, the smallest form lacking a transmembrane domain, cultured mouse neural cells were treated with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Staphylococcus aureus. When live cultures of astrocytes and neurons are treated with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, N-CAM120 is released into the supernatant. Under these conditions N-CAM140 and N-CAM180 are not released. Phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus or Clostridium perfringens does not release N-CAM120. The embryonic form of N-CAM on astrocytes migrating as a broad band between 120 and 180 kDa is also partially released by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C as a band migrating between 120 and 160 kDa. These observations suggest novel mechanisms in regulation of N-CAM120 expression on the cell surface and in modulation of N-CAM-mediated cell adhesion.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism*; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D010738:Type C Phospholipases