title: Polysialic acid and the regulation of cell interactions.
abstract: Polysialic acid, a unique glycosylation of the neural cell adhesion molecule, is highly regulated in its expression. Its function is manifested in the modulation of cell interactions, probably through its unusual physical properties. Recent advances have clarified the enzymatic mechanism of polysialic acid biosynthesis, expanded its role in cell migration and axon guidance, and suggested that it promotes plasticity in the adult nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-4955, USA. uxr@po.cwru.edu
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rutishauser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D004194:Disease; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries
chemical_list: D012794:Sialic Acids