CEPU-1, a novel immunoglobulin superfamily molecule, is expressed by developing cerebellar Purkinje cells.
Proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) are involved in a variety of specific cell-cell interactions in the developing nervous system. We used a systematic approach, based on the PCR, to identify and characterize new members of this protein family in the developing chick nervous system. In this study, we report on CEPU-1, a new IgSF protein that is strongly expressed in developing Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum and is detectable on the dendrites, somata, and axons of these cells. The timing of CEPU-1 expression coincides with the growth of the dendritic tree--after the Purkinje cells have finished their migration from the ventricular zone. CEPU-1 is a 51 kDa glycoprotein comprised of three Ig-like domains of the C2 subcategory and is anchored to the plasma membrane via a post-translationally attached glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol moiety. The protein shows high sequence similarity to the neurotrimin glycoprotein (78% identity), to the opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule (or OBCAM; 68% identity), and to the limbic system-associated membrane protein (or LAMP; 54% identity). Our results suggest that CEPU-1 may serve as a cellular identification marker that is specific for developing Purkinje cells.
Spaltmann
F
F
Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany.
Brümmendorf
T
T
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D030161:Avian Proteins; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015335:Molecular Probes; C102493:neural CEPU-1 protein, chicken