NRCAM Membrane Protein Introduction

Introduction of NRCAM

Neuronal cell adhesion molecule, encoded by the gene NRCAM, is also known as Neuron-glial-related cell adhesion molecule (NRCAM). NRCAM is a member of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily, with multiple fibronectin type-III domains and immunoglobulin-like C2-type domains. NRCAM is a 200-220 kDa transmembrane protein with six Ig-like domains and five FnIII repeats in the extracellular region, plus a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail. NRCAM is abundantly expressed in the nervous system but is also detected in a variety of healthy or neoplastic tissues and cell lines including pancreatic cancer, melanoma, renal and colon carcinoma, adrenal gland, placenta, thyroid, and testis.

Function of NRCAM Membrane Protein

As a neuronal cell adhesion molecule, NRCAM is primarily known to be involved in neuron-neuron and neuron-glial adhesion as well as directional signaling during axonal cone growth. Afterward, it is reported to play roles in several cellular processes in the central and peripheral nervous systems, including neurite outgrowth, axonal pathfinding and myelination, fasciculation of nerve fibers, and cell migration. In addition, NRCAM is also detected in non-neural tissues, where it may play a general role in cell-cell communication via signaling from its intracellular domain to the actin cytoskeleton during directional cell migration. Recently, the formation of Ranvier nodes on myelinated axons is also shown to be related to NRCAM expression.

Fig.1 NrCAM inhibits proteolytic cleavage of plexinA1 at the midline. (Derijck, 2010)

Application of NRCAM Membrane Protein in Literature

1. Demyanenko G.P., et al. Neural cell adhesion molecule NrCAM regulates Semaphorin 3F-induced dendritic spine remodeling. J Neurosci. 2014, 34(34): 11274-87. PubMed ID: 25143608
   
   

   This article reveals that NrCAM is an integral component of the Sema3F receptor complex and a new postnatal regulator of dendritic spine density in cortical pyramidal neurons, implicating that NrCAM may contribute to inhibitory/excitatory balance in neocortical circuits.

2. Ishiguro H., et al. NrCAM-regulating neural systems and addiction-related behaviors. Addict Biol. 2014, 19(3): 343-53. PubMed ID: 22780223
   
   

   This article suggests that NrCAM plays a role in addiction-related behaviors through, at least partially, modulation of neural function in the brain and some glutamatergic pathways.

3. Brand Y., et al. Neural cell adhesion molecule NrCAM is expressed in the mammalian inner ear and modulates spiral ganglion neurite outgrowth in an in vitro alternate choice assay. J Mol Neurosci. 2015, 55(4): 836-44. PubMed ID: 25407819
   
   

   This article indicates that NrCAM has a high expression in the development of the mammalian cochlea. Additionally, it demonstrates that NrCAM may explain neonatal rat inner ear spiral ganglion neurites in vitro.

4. Dai J., et al. Neuron glia-related cell adhesion molecule (NrCAM) promotes topographic retinocollicular mapping. PLoS One. 2013, 8(9): e73000. PubMed ID: 24023801
   
   

   This article demonstrates that NrCAM is associated with mediolateral retinocollicular axon targeting by regulating RGC branch orientation through a likely mechanism in which ephrinB/EphB phosphorylates NrCAM to modulate linkage to the actin cytoskeleton.

5. Amor V., et al. Long-term maintenance of Na⁺ channels at nodes of Ranvier depends on glial contact mediated by gliomedin and NrCAM. J Neurosci. 2014, 34(15): 5089-98. PubMed ID: 24719088
   
   

   This article reveals that gliomedin, NrCAM, and NF186 can mediate axon-glial contact, which is associated in Na⁺ channel clustering during development and may be involved in the long-term maintenance of Na⁺ channels at nodes of Ranvier.

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Reference

1. Derijck A A, et al. (2010). Semaphorin signaling: molecular switches at the midline. Trends Cell Biol. 20(9): 568-76.

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