Molecular mechanisms of NCAM function.
Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) was originally characterised as a homophilic cell adhesion molecule (CAM) abundantly expressed in the nervous system. However, the last decade of research has challenged the traditional view and defined novel roles for NCAM. NCAM is now considered a signaling receptor that responds to both homophilic and heterophilic cues, as well as a mediator of cell-cell adhesion. This review describes NCAM function at the molecular level. We discuss recent models for extracellular ligand-interactions of NCAM, and the intracellular signaling cascade that follows to define cellular outcomes such as neurite outgrowth.
Hinsby
Anders M
AM
Protein Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Pathology, University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute 6.2, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200, Denmark.
Berezin
Vladimir
V
Bock
Elisabeth
E
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / Q000378:metabolism; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008024:Ligands; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D012794:Sialic Acids; C021319:polysialic acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1; C494957:FYN protein, human; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3