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The Structure and Function of Cell Adhesion Molecules

1988; Elsevier BV; Volume: 2; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s1569-2558(08)60429-4

1875-5291

Brian T. Cunningham,

Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling

This chapter discusses the structure and function of cell-adhesion molecules. Cell–cell adhesion is an important process during development of embryonic tissues and in the maintenance of adult tissues. It is of particular interest during embryogenesis when cell collectives are formed, and induce specific differentiation events. Early studies suggested that such cell–cell interactions were in fact specific recognition events and might be mediated by a large number of molecules that provided each cell with a unique address. However, no molecules of such exquisite specificity have yet been identified. It has been proposed that such specificity at the molecular level is highly unlikely, but that the modulation of a small number of cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs) is sufficient to account for a range of binding activities. The isolation of the neural-cell-adhesion molecule (N-CAM), the subsequent identification of other CAMs, and detailed analyses of the distributions and activities of N-CAM and the liver-cell-adhesion molecule (L-CAM) have suggested dynamic roles for CAMs and have emphasized the importance of cell adhesion in development.