Ectopic expression of NCAM in mouse fibroblasts stimulates self-aggregation, and promotes integration into primary cerebellum cell aggregates.
We have undertaken aggregation experiments using mouse LMTK(-)-fibroblasts transfected with various isotypes of the neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM. We found that self-aggregation of NCAM-positive fibroblasts is enhanced compared to control-transfected cells. The aggregation properties are partly dependent on the expressed NCAM isotype. Fibroblasts expressing a NCAM 140 isotype with exons a3 and pi were further tested in primary cerebellum cell re-aggregation experiments. While control-transfected fibroblasts could not be found in forming aggregates, fibroblasts ectopically expressing NCAM were integrated into neural cell aggregates. Time-lapse photography indicated that the nascent primary cell aggregates actively participated in the integration process by migration and attachment to nearby NCAM-positive fibroblasts.
Hartmann
U
U
Institut für Genetik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Vens
C
C
Vopper
G
G
Wille
W
W
Heinlein
U A
UA
D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005091:Exons; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D007739:L Cells; D051379:Mice; D014162:Transfection
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D018076:DNA, Complementary