Back to Search
Start Over
Brain development needs sugar: the role of polysialic acid in controlling NCAM functions.
- Source :
-
Biological chemistry [Biol Chem] 2009 Jul; Vol. 390 (7), pp. 567-74. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Polysialic acid (polySia) is a major regulator of cell-cell interactions in the developing nervous system and a key factor in maintaining neural plasticity. As a polyanionic molecule with high water binding capacity, polySia increases the intercellular space and creates conditions that are permissive for cellular plasticity. While the prevailing model highlights polySia as a non-specific regulator of cell-cell contacts, this review concentrates on recent studies in knockout mice indicating that a crucial function of polySia resides in controlling interactions mediated by its predominant protein carrier, the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1431-6730
- Volume :
- 390
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biological chemistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19426138
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1515/BC.2009.078