title: NCAM-induced intracellular signaling revisited.
abstract: The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) plays a crucial role in neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and regeneration. NCAM works as "smart glue" that not only mediates cell-cell adhesion but also induces activation of a complex network of intracellular signaling cascades on homophilic or heterophilic binding. Stimulation of NCAM by homophilic interactions induces neuronal differentiation through activation of a number of signaling molecules, including the fibroblast growth factor receptor, non-receptor kinases Fyn and focal adhesion kinase, growth-associated protein-43, the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, intracellular Ca(2+), and protein kinases A, C, and G. This review presents and discusses the current knowledge in the area of NCAM signaling with a focus on the events involved in NCAM-mediated neurite outgrowth.
authors.affiliation: Protein Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark. dorted@plab.ku.dk
authors.forename: Dorte Kornerup
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ditlevsen
authors.forename: Gro Klitgaard
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Povlsen
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berezin
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules