title: Cell-adhesion proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily in the nervous system.
abstract: The unique groups of cell-adhesion proteins, such as IgSF, play essential parts in the formation and maintenance of the nervous system. Recent crystallographic studies have revealed a possible common structure of cell-adhesion proteins. The IgSF proteins are sub-grouped into simple, complex and mixed types. Accumulating evidence reveals the importance of cell-adhesion proteins in neural morphogenesis, maintenance and regeneration. They play key roles in neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth promotion, neurite fasciculation, pathfinding, target recognition, synaptogenesis and myelination. Mutations of cell-adhesion proteins result in neurological disease; for example, mutations of PO in hereditary neuropathy and mutations of L1 in hereditary hydrocephalus, MASA syndrome and spastic paraplegia type 1. Perspectives of the studies of neural cell-adhesion proteins are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uyemura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yazaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000737:chemistry; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell