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VASE exon expression alters NCAM‐mediated cell‐cell interactions
Author(s) -
Chen A.,
Haines S.,
Maxson K.,
Akeson R. A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490380502
Subject(s) - neural cell adhesion molecule , transfection , exon , cell adhesion , cell adhesion molecule , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoplasm , alternative splicing , adhesion , biology , cell , cell culture , gene , chemistry , biochemistry , genetics , organic chemistry
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is found on cells as several related polypeptides formed by alternative splicing of the single NCAM gene. The alternatively spliced 30‐bp VASE exon in the fourth immunoglobulin‐like domain is the structural variation nearest those portions of the polypeptide proposed to mediate cell‐cell adhesion. To test the ability of distinct forms of the NCAM molecules to mediate cell adhesion, L cells were transfected with expression vectors encoding rat 140 kD NCAM ± the VASE exon. L cell lines which expressed these polypeptides were isolated and tested for self‐aggregation in a low shear, rapid aggregation assay. Increased cellular aggregation of the transfectants was observed to be a function of the NCAM molecule expressed. These transfected cells showed segregation in a long term co‐aggregation assay: cells expressing NCAM — VASE formed aggregates which tended to exclude cells expressing NCAM + VASE and vice versa. These results provide direct evidence that this small difference in NCAM structure is sufficient to allow segregation of cells. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.