Abstract
The neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM, is involved in multiple cis- and trans-homophilic interactions (NCAM binding to NCAM) thereby facilitating cell–cell adhesion through the formation of zipper-like NCAM-complexes. NCAM is also involved in heterophilic interactions with a number of proteins and extracellular matrix molecules. Some of these heterophilic interactions are mutually exclusive, and some interfere with or are dependent on homophilic NCAM interactions. Furthermore, both homo- and heterophilic interactions are modulated by posttranslational modifications of NCAM. Heterophilic NCAM-interactions initiate several intracellular signal transduction pathways ultimately leading to biological responses involving cellular differentiation, proliferation, migration and survival. Both homo- and heterophilic NCAM-interactions can be mimicked by synthetic peptides, which can induce NCAM-like signalling, and in vitroand in vivo studies suggest that such NCAM mimetics may be used for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Special issue dedicated to Lawrence F. Eng.
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Walmod, P.S., Kolkova, K., Berezin, V. et al. Zippers Make Signals: NCAM-mediated Molecular Interactions and Signal Transduction. Neurochem Res 29, 2015–2035 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-004-6875-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-004-6875-z
Keywords
- ATP
- binding
- CD56
- cell adhesion molecule
- chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans
- fibroblast growth factor
- focal adhesion kinase
- Fyn
- glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor
- heparan sulfate proteoglycans
- HNK-1
- immunoglobulin
- interaction
- ligand
- mimetic
- NCAM
- neurite outgrowth
- palmitoylation
- peptide
- phosphorylation
- polysialic acid
- protein kinase
- protein structure
- signal transduction
- VASE