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94 PSA is a specific and positive regulator of the axonal growth response stimulated by NCAM
Author(s) -
Doherty Patrick,
Walsh Frank S.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/0736-5748(96)80285-1
Subject(s) - citation , regulator , library science , psychology , neuroscience , political science , computer science , biology , genetics , gene
An increasing number of reports demonstrates mvolvement of polyu-2,8-N-acctylneuraminic acid @A) in plastic processes in the vertebrate bran. Amongst the neural functions influenced by PSA arc neurite outgrowth, axonal pathfinding, postnatal myclinatlon, mural regeneration. synaptogcnesis and syrraptrc rearrangements assoc[atcd with learning and mcmor) (for review see Doherty ct al., J-&‘eurobro/. 26, 437-46.1995) Recently we isolated hamster polvsialyltransfcrase-1 (PST-l). the key enzyme of PSA synthesis (Eckhardt ct al., Nutwe 373,715-s, 1995) A soluble PST-l produced as a chimcnc protein with protein A, was used to investlgatc the catalqlic functions of tins cqmc in detail. PST-l 1s an enzyme with at least two catalytic finctlons In an autocalal>%c process PSTI medtates self-polysialylat~on at one or more of the live potential N-giycosylarlon sites within the catalytic domam Autopolysialylatlon IS likely to be the result of a constitutlvely active polymerasc. A second catalytic activity resides in polysialylatlon of the specific acceptor NCAM, which possibly 1s the result of a transferase acuvity. Our data present nen Insight on the catal>%c mechanism of PST-I and therefore provide a new basis for the dc~~clopmcnt of therapeutic smtable to infIucnce PSA-synthcns 94