Cell adhesion molecules axonal fasciculation

Cell adhesion molecules are responsible for axonal fasciculation 117... 

FIGURE 7-6 Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) carries different levels of polysialic acid. (A) NCAM is depicted on a growing axon, without polysialic acid. Under these conditions, NCAM and LI molecules interact homophilically and axons fasciculate. (B) NCAM carries polysialic acid (PSA), and NCAM and LI molecules are far apart and cannot, therefore, interact. Growing axons do not fasciculate under these circumstances. 

Cadherins are Ca -binding adhesion molecules that mediate homophilic interaction between cells. Cadherins are particularly important for selective fasciculation of regenerating axons. For instance, E-cadherin mediates attachment of unmyelinated sensory fibers and stabilizes glial network [42], and N-cadherin mediates axon-Schwann ceU interactions during regeneration [39, 43]. 

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