Abnormal HNK-1 expression in the cerebellum of an N-CAM null mouse.
Human natural killer antigen-1 (HNK-1) is a carbohydrate epitope associated with sulfoglucuronylglycolipids and glycoproteins. Biochemical analyses have demonstrated associations between the HNK-1 epitope and isoforms of the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) family. In the cerebellum, HNK-1 is prominently expressed in Purkinje cell dendrites and Golgi cells. Purkinje cell expression of HNK-1 reveals an array of parasagittal stripes and transverse zones. Interestingly, the parasagittal expression pattern of HNK-1 is different from those reported with several other markers such as zebrin II/aldolase C and the small heat shock protein HSP25. N-CAM null knockout mice were used to explore the possible role of the HNK-1/N-CAM interaction during the topographical organization of the cerebellar cortex. N-CAM null mice have no N-CAM immunoreactivity but otherwise the cerebellum appears morphologically normal. Further, in the N-CAM null HNK-1 immunoreactivity is abolished from Purkinje cell dendrites but is retained on Golgi cells and neurons of the cerebellar nuclei. Despite the absence of N-CAM/HNK-1, parasagittal stripes and transverse zones in the cerebellum as revealed by using zebrin II immunocytochemistry appear normal.
Marzban
Hassan
H
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and Genes and Development Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
Sillitoe
Roy V
RV
Hoy
Monica
M
Chung
Seung-Hyuk
SH
Rafuse
Victor F
VF
Hawkes
Richard
R
D000818:Animals; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics*
D018959:CD57 Antigens; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules