title: NCAM2/OCAM/RNCAM: cell adhesion molecule with a role in neuronal compartmentalization.
abstract: Neural cell adhesion molecules 2 (NCAM2/OCAM/RNCAM), is a paralog of NCAM1. The protein exists in a transmembrane and a lipid-anchored isoform, and has an ectodomain consisting of five immunoglobulin modules and two fibronectin type 3 homology modules. Structural models of the NCAM2 ectodomain reveal that it facilitates cell adhesion through reciprocal interactions between the membrane-distal immunoglobulin modules. There are no known heterophilic NCAM2 binding partners, and NCAM2 is not glycosylated with polysialic acid, a posttranslational modification known to be a major modulator of NCAM1-mediated processes. This suggests that NCAM2 has a function or mode of action distinctly different from that of NCAM1. NCAM2 is primarily expressed in the brain, where it is believed to stimulate neurite outgrowth and to facilitate dendritic and axonal compartmentalization.
authors.affiliation: Protein Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3C, Building 24.2, 2200 Copenhagen N., DK, Denmark. mwinther@sund.ku.dk
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winther
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berezin
authors.forename: Peter Schledermann
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Walmod
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*; D038081:Organogenesis
chemical_list: C108033:NCAM2 protein, human; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules