title: NCAM function in the adult brain: lessons from mimetic peptides and therapeutic potential.
abstract: Neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAMs) are complexes of transmembranal proteins critical for cell-cell interactions. Initially recognized as key players in the orchestration of developmental processes involving cell migration, cell survival, axon guidance, and synaptic targeting, they have been shown to retain these functions in the mature adult brain, in relation to plastic processes and cognitive abilities. NCAMs are able to interact among themselves (homophilic binding) as well as with other molecules (heterophilic binding). Furthermore, they are the sole molecule of the central nervous system undergoing polysialylation. Most interestingly polysialylated and non-polysialylated NCAMs display opposite properties. The precise contributions each of these characteristics brings in the regulations of synaptic and cellular plasticity in relation to cognitive processes in the adult brain are not yet fully understood. With the aim of deciphering the specific involvement of each interaction, recent developments led to the generation of NCAM mimetic peptides that recapitulate identified binding properties of NCAM. The present review focuses on the information such advances have provided in the understanding of NCAM contribution to cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Neurosciences Paris-Sud, UMR, 8195, Univ Paris-Sud, Orsay 91405, France. glenn.dallerac@u-psud.fr
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dallérac
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rampon
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Doyère
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D012794:Sialic Acids; C021319:polysialic acid