The Role of PSA-NCAM in Adult Neurogenesis

Recruitment of new neurons to existing circuits is a fascinating form of adult plasticity. In the mammalian brain, this process occurs in two discrete regions, the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricule (SVZ) and the subgranular zone of dentate gyrus (SGZ) in the hippocampus. Several recent studies suggest that isoforms of the neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) carrying the linear homopolymer of alpha 2,8-linked sialic acid (polysialic acid, PSA), play a role in regulating several steps of adult neurogenesis including migration, survival and process outgrowth of newly generated neurons. Here, we will review recent evidence on how PSA-NCAM might regulate the biological properties of new neurons in sites of adult neurogenesis.