1
|
Zhang L, Wei X. SynCAMs in Normal Vertebrate Neural Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: from the Perspective of the OCAs. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:358-371. [PMID: 37607992 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03579-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal synaptic junctions connect neurons to enable neuronal signal transmission in the nervous system. The proper establishment of synaptic connections required many adhesion molecules. Malfunctions of these adhesion molecules can result in neural development disorders and neuropsychiatric disorders. How specific synapses are established by various adhesion molecules for proper neural circuitry is a fundamental question of neuroscience. SynCAMs, also named CADMs, Necl, etc., are among the many adhesion proteins found in synapses. Here, we review the current understanding of the physical properties of SynCAMs and their roles in axon pathfinding, myelination, synaptogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. In addition, we discuss the involvement of SynCAMs in neuropsychiatric disorders. Finally, we propose that SynCAM functions can be better viewed and understood from the perspective of orientational cell adhesions (OCAs). In particular, we discuss the possibilities of how SynCAMs can be regulated at the cell-type specific expression, transcription variants, posttranslational modification, and subcellular localization to modulate the diversity of SynCAMs as OCA molecules. Being major components of the synapses, SynCAMs continue to be an important research topic of neuroscience, and many outstanding questions are waiting to be answered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
| | - Xiangyun Wei
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Developmental Biology, and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Decreased Expression of Cell Adhesion Molecule 4 in Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Its Prognostic Implications. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12040941. [PMID: 35453989 PMCID: PMC9026560 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12040941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell adhesion molecule 4 (CADM4) is a novel tumor suppressor candidate. The prognostic implications of CADM4 in gastric cancer have not been conclusively elucidated. Therefore, we evaluated the clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of CADM4 expression in a large series of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for CADM4 was performed on 534 gastric adenocarcinomas. We evaluated the associations between CADM4 expression and the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of the adenocarcinomas. The prognostic effect of CADM4 expression was evaluated by survival analyses. Low CADM4 expression was significantly associated with young age (p = 0.046), aggressive histological type (p < 0.001), high pT category (p < 0.001), nodal metastasis (p < 0.001), high stage (p = 0.002), lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.001), and perineural invasion (p = 0.001). Low CADM4 expression was more frequently observed in tumors without human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification (p = 0.002). Low CADM4 expression was associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.007) and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.005) in the survival analyses. Low CADM4 expression was associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poor clinical outcomes. CADM4 can act as a tumor suppressor in gastric adenocarcinoma and can be considered a prognostic biomarker.
Collapse
|
3
|
Sayar İ, Gökçe A, Demirtas L, Eken H, Çimen FK, Çimen O. Necl 4 and RNase 5 Are Important Biomarkers for Gastric and Colon Adenocarcinomas. Med Sci Monit 2017; 23:2654-2659. [PMID: 28561015 PMCID: PMC5461883 DOI: 10.12659/msm.902648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a need to identify new prognostic factors that may be used in addition to the known risk factors in gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. In this study, we aimed to determine the expression of Necl 4 and RNase 5 biomarkers in gastric and colon adenocarcinomas, as well as the prognostic efficacy of these biomarkers in gastric and colon adenocarcinomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety-two cases resected due to stomach and colon adenocarcinoma were included in the study. The expression of Necl 4 and RNase 5 biomarkers was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of the stomach and colon normal mucosa and adenocarcinoma areas. RESULTS In colon adenocarcinomas, there was a significant association between Necl 4 and lymphovascular invasion, vascular invasion, and perineural invasion (p<0.05). There was a significant association between RNase 5 and histological differentiation in colon adenocarcinomas (p<0.05). There was no association between RNase 5 and Necl 4 in gastric or colon adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSIONS Necl 4 may have prognostic value in colon adenocarcinomas, but it is difficult to ascertain in gastric adenocarcinomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- İlyas Sayar
- Department of Pathology, Erzincan University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Aysun Gökçe
- Department of Pathology, Dişkapi Training Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Levent Demirtas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erzincan University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Hüseyin Eken
- Deparment of General Surgery, Erzincan University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Ferda Keskin Çimen
- Department of Pathology, Erzincan University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Orhan Çimen
- Deparment of General Surgery, Erzincan University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kim KJ, Kim JY, Hong SM, Gu MJ. Loss of CADM4 expression is associated with poor prognosis in small intestinal adenocarcinomas. APMIS 2017; 125:437-443. [DOI: 10.1111/apm.12684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Ju Kim
- Department of Pathology; Yeungnam University College of Medicine; Daegu Korea
| | - Jung Yeon Kim
- Department of Pathology; Inje University; Sanggye Paik Hospital; Seoul Korea
| | - Seung-Mo Hong
- Department of Pathology; University of Ulsan College of Medicine; Asan Medical Center; Seoul Korea
| | - Mi Jin Gu
- Department of Pathology; Yeungnam University College of Medicine; Daegu Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Daya M, van der Merwe L, van Helden PD, Möller M, Hoal EG. Investigating the Role of Gene-Gene Interactions in TB Susceptibility. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123970. [PMID: 25919455 PMCID: PMC4412713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading cause of mortality from infectious disease worldwide. One of the factors involved in developing disease is the genetics of the host, yet the field of TB susceptibility genetics has not yielded the answers that were expected. A commonly posited explanation for the missing heritability of complex disease is gene-gene interactions, also referred to as epistasis. In this study we investigate the role of gene-gene interactions in genetic susceptibility to TB using a cohort recruited from a high TB incidence community from Cape Town, South Africa. Our discovery data set incorporates genotypes from a large a number of candidate gene studies as well as genome-wide data. After limiting our search space to pairs of putative TB susceptibility genes, as well as pairs of genes that have been curated in online databases as potential interactors, we use statistical modelling to identify pairs of interacting SNPs. We attempt to validate the top models identified in our discovery data set using an independent genome-wide TB case-control data set from The Gambia. A number of models were successfully validated, indicating that interplay between the NRG1 - NRG3, GRIK1 - GRIK3 and IL23R - ATG4C gene pairs may modify susceptibility to TB. Gene pairs involved in the NF-κB pathway were also identified in the discovery data set (SFTPD - NOD2, ISG15 - TLR8 and NLRC5 - IL12RB1), but could not be tested in the Gambian study group due to lack of overlapping data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Daya
- SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lize van der Merwe
- SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Paul D. van Helden
- SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marlo Möller
- SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Eileen G. Hoal
- SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Thomas LA, Akins MR, Biederer T. Expression and adhesion profiles of SynCAM molecules indicate distinct neuronal functions. J Comp Neurol 2008; 510:47-67. [PMID: 18615557 DOI: 10.1002/cne.21773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cell-cell interactions through adhesion molecules play key roles in the development of the nervous system. Synaptic cell adhesion molecules (SynCAMs) comprise a group of four immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily members that mediate adhesion and are prominently expressed in the brain. Although SynCAMs have been implicated in the differentiation of neurons, there has been no comprehensive analysis of their expression patterns. Here we examine the spatiotemporal expression patterns of SynCAMs by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and immunohistological techniques. SynCAMs 1-4 are widely expressed throughout the developing and adult central nervous system. They are prominently expressed in neurons throughout the brain and are present in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Investigation of different brain regions in the developing and mature mouse brain indicates that each SynCAM exhibits a distinct spatiotemporal expression pattern. This is observed in all regions analyzed and is particularly notable in the cerebellum, where SynCAMs display highly distinct expression in cerebellar granule and Purkinje cells. These unique expression profiles are complemented by specific heterophilic adhesion patterns of SynCAM family members, as shown by cell overlay experiments. Three prominent interactions are observed, mediated by the extracellular domains of SynCAMs 1/2, 2/4, and 3/4. These expression and adhesion profiles of SynCAMs together with their previously reported functions in synapse organization indicate that SynCAM proteins contribute importantly to the synaptic circuitry of the central nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Thomas
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Maurel P, Einheber S, Galinska J, Thaker P, Lam I, Rubin MB, Scherer SS, Murakami Y, Gutmann DH, Salzer JL. Nectin-like proteins mediate axon Schwann cell interactions along the internode and are essential for myelination. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 178:861-74. [PMID: 17724124 PMCID: PMC2064549 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200705132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Axon-glial interactions are critical for the induction of myelination and the domain organization of myelinated fibers. Although molecular complexes that mediate these interactions in the nodal region are known, their counterparts along the internode are poorly defined. We report that neurons and Schwann cells express distinct sets of nectin-like (Necl) proteins: axons highly express Necl-1 and -2, whereas Schwann cells express Necl-4 and lower amounts of Necl-2. These proteins are strikingly localized to the internode, where Necl-1 and -2 on the axon are directly apposed by Necl-4 on the Schwann cell; all three proteins are also enriched at Schmidt-Lanterman incisures. Binding experiments demonstrate that the Necl proteins preferentially mediate heterophilic rather than homophilic interactions. In particular, Necl-1 on axons binds specifically to Necl-4 on Schwann cells. Knockdown of Necl-4 by short hairpin RNA inhibits Schwann cell differentiation and subsequent myelination in cocultures. These results demonstrate a key role for Necl-4 in initiating peripheral nervous system myelination and implicate the Necl proteins as mediators of axo-glial interactions along the internode.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrice Maurel
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurology, Smilow Neuroscience Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Williams YN, Masuda M, Sakurai-Yageta M, Maruyama T, Shibuya M, Murakami Y. Cell adhesion and prostate tumor-suppressor activity of TSLL2/IGSF4C, an immunoglobulin superfamily molecule homologous to TSLC1/IGSF4. Oncogene 2006; 25:1446-53. [PMID: 16261159 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The TSLL2/IGSF4C encodes an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily molecule showing significant homology with a lung tumor suppressor, TSLC1. The TSLL2 protein of 55 kDa is mainly expressed in the kidney, bladder, and prostate in addition to the brain. Here, we report the biological significance of TSLL2 in the urinary tissues. An immunohistochemical study reveals that TSLL2 is expressed at the cell-cell attachment sites in the renal tubules, the transitional epithelia of the bladder, and the glandular epithelia of the prostate. Confocal microscopy analysis demonstrates that TSLL2 is localized in the lateral membranes in polarized Mardin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. TSLL2 forms homo-dimers and its overexpression induces aggregation of suspended MDCK cells in a Ca2+/Mg2+-independent manner, suggesting that it is involved in cell adhesion through homophilic trans-interaction. The TSLL2 gene is mapped on the chromosomal region 19q13.2, whose loss of heterozygosity has been frequently reported in prostate cancer. TSLL2 protein is lost in nine of nine primary prostate cancers and in a prostate cancer cell, PPC-1. Introduction of TSLL2 into PPC-1 strongly suppresses subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice. These results suggest that TSLL2 is a new member of the Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecules and is a tumor-suppressor candidate in prostate cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y N Williams
- Tumor Suppression and Functional Genomics Project, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Dong X, Xu F, Gong Y, Gao J, Lin P, Chen T, Peng Y, Qiang B, Yuan J, Peng X, Rao Z. Crystal structure of the V domain of human Nectin-like molecule-1/Syncam3/Tsll1/Igsf4b, a neural tissue-specific immunoglobulin-like cell-cell adhesion molecule. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:10610-7. [PMID: 16467305 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m513459200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nectins are Ca(2+)-independent immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily proteins that participate in the organization of epithelial and endothelial junctions. Nectins have three Ig-like domains in the extracellular region, and the first one is essential in cell-cell adhesion and plays a central role in the interaction with the envelope glycoprotein D of several viruses. Five Nectin-like molecules (Necl-1 through -5) with similar domain structures to those of Nectins have been identified. Necl-1 is specifically expressed in neural tissue, has Ca(2+)-independent homophilic and heterophilic cell-cell adhesion activity, and plays an important role in the formation of synapses, axon bundles, and myelinated axons. Here we report the first crystal structure of its N-terminal Ig-like V domain at 2.4 A, providing insight into trans-cellular recognition mediated by Necl-1. The protein crystallized as a dimer, and the dimeric form was confirmed by size-exclusion chromatography and chemical cross-linking experiments, indicating this V domain is sufficient for homophilic interaction. Mutagenesis work demonstrated that Phe(82) is a key residue for the adhesion activity of Necl-1. A model for homophilic adhesion of Necl-1 at synapses is proposed based on its structure and previous studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhua Dong
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Biederer T. Bioinformatic characterization of the SynCAM family of immunoglobulin-like domain-containing adhesion molecules. Genomics 2006; 87:139-50. [PMID: 16311015 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2005.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2005] [Revised: 07/31/2005] [Accepted: 08/15/2005] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
SynCAM 1 (synaptic cell adhesion molecule 1, alternatively named Tslc1 and nectin-like protein 3) belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and is an adhesion molecule that operates in a variety of important contexts. Exemplary are its roles in adhesion at synapses in the central nervous system and as tumor suppressor. Here, I describe a family of genes homologous to SynCAM 1 comprising four genes found solely in vertebrates. All SynCAM genes encode proteins with three immunoglobulin-like domains of the V-set, C1-set, and I-set subclasses. Comparison of genomic with cDNA sequences provides their exon-intron structure. Alternative splicing generates isoforms of SynCAM proteins, and diverse SynCAM 1 and 2 isoforms are created in an extracellular region rich in predicted O-glycosylation sites. Protein interaction motifs in the cytosolic sequence are highly conserved among all four SynCAM proteins, indicating their critical functional role. These findings aim to facilitate the understanding of SynCAM genes and provide the framework to examine the physiological functions of this family of vertebrate-specific adhesion molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Biederer
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kakunaga S, Ikeda W, Itoh S, Deguchi-Tawarada M, Ohtsuka T, Mizoguchi A, Takai Y. Nectin-like molecule-1/TSLL1/SynCAM3: a neural tissue-specific immunoglobulin-like cell-cell adhesion molecule localizing at non-junctional contact sites of presynaptic nerve terminals, axons and glia cell processes. J Cell Sci 2005; 118:1267-77. [PMID: 15741237 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.01656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nectins are Ca2+-independent immunoglobulin-like cell-cell adhesion molecules and comprise a family of four members. At the mossy fiber terminals of hippocampus, nectin-1 and nectin-3 localize at the presynaptic and postsynaptic sides of synaptic junctions, respectively, and their trans-interactions play a role in formation of synapses in cooperation with N-cadherin. Nectins are associated with the actin cytoskeleton through afadin, a nectin- and actin-filament-binding protein. Five nectin-like molecules (Necls) which have domain structures similar to those of nectins have been identified and here we characterize Necl-1/TSLL1/SynCAM3, from now on referred to as Necl-1. Tissue distribution analysis showed that Necl-1 was specifically expressed in the neural tissue. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy revealed that Necl-1 localized at the contact sites among axons, their terminals, and glia cell processes that cooperatively formed synapses, axon bundles and myelinated axons. Necl-1 showed Ca2+-independent homophilic cell-cell adhesion activity. It furthermore showed Ca2+-independent heterophilic cell-cell adhesion activity with Necl-2/IGSF4/RA175/SgIGSF/TSLC1/SynCAM1 from now on referred to as Necl-2, nectin-1 and nectin-3, but not with Necl-5 or nectin-2. The C-terminal cytoplasmic region of Necl-1 did not bind afadin but bound membrane-associated guanylate kinase subfamily members that contain the L27 domain, including Dlg3, Pals2 and CASK. These results indicate that Necl-1 is a neural-tissue-specific Ca2+-independent immunoglobulin-like cell-cell adhesion molecule which potentially has membrane-associated guanylate kinase subfamily member-binding activity and localizes at the non-junctional cell-cell contact sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Kakunaga
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine/Faculty of Medicine, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhou Y, Du G, Hu X, Yu S, Liu Y, Xu Y, Huang X, Liu J, Yin B, Fan M, Peng X, Qiang B, Yuan J. Nectin-like molecule 1 is a protein 4.1N associated protein and recruits protein 4.1N from cytoplasm to the plasma membrane. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2005; 1669:142-54. [PMID: 15893517 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2005.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2004] [Revised: 01/24/2005] [Accepted: 01/28/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Nectins are immunoglobulin superfamily adhesion molecules that participate in the organization of epithelial and endothelial junctions. Sharing high homology with the poliovirus receptor (PVR/CD155), nectins were also named poliovirus receptor-related proteins (PRRs). Four nectins and five nectin-like molecules have been identified. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of human and mouse nectin-like molecular 1 (NECL1). Human and mouse NECL1 share 87.3% identity at the amino acid level. NECL1 contains an ectodomain made of three immunoglobulin-like domains, and a cytoplasmic region homologous to those of glycophorin C and contactin-associated protein. RNA blot and in situ hybridization analysis showed that NECL1 predominantly expressed in the central nervous system, mainly in neuronal cell bodies in a variety of brain regions including the cerebellum, cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In vitro binding assay proved the association of NECL1 with protein 4.1N. NECL1 localizes to the cell-cell junctions and recruits protein 4.1N to the plasma membranes through its C-terminus, thus may regulate the function of the cell-cell junction. We propose that the NECL1 and protein 4.1N complex is involved in the morphological development, stability, and dynamic plasticity of the nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhou
- National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Human Genome Center, Beijing 100005, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|