title: VASE-encoded peptide modifies NCAM- and L1-mediated neurite outgrowth.
abstract: Interactions between the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) with NCAM-expressing neurons (trans-interaction) stimulate outgrowth of neurites. The extent of NCAM-triggered neurite outgrowth depends on the presence of 10 amino acids derived from the variable alternatively spliced exon (VASE or pi-exon) in the fourth immunoglobulin-like domain of NCAM (Ig4): NCAM with VASE reduces and without VASE enhances neurite outgrowth in cis- or trans-interaction. We have investigated the role of VASE in neurite outgrowth by characterizing the receptors at the cell surface of cultured cerebellar neurons. Results from experiments with L1 and NCAM antibodies and with cerebellar neurons derived from wild-type or NCAM-deficient mice show that substrate-coated Ig4 with VASE (Ig4+) or without VASE (Ig4-) stimulates neurite outgrowth by a trans-interaction with L1 and that Ig4- promotes neurite outgrowth more strongly than Ig4+ by a transinteraction with NCAM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Hönggerberg, Zürich.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lahrtz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horstkorte
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schachner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montag
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000737:chemistry; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D016501:Neurites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C086869:VASE peptide