Searching the Resource Information Network
Are you sure you want to leave this community? Leaving the community will revoke any permissions you have been granted in this community.
The NgCAM-related cell adhesion molecule (NrCAM) is an immunoglobulin superfamily member of the L1 subgroup that interacts intracellularly with ankyrins. We reveal that the absence of NrCAM causes the formation of mature cataracts in the mouse, whereas significant pathfinding errors of commissural axons at the midline of the spinal cord or of proprioceptive axon collaterals are not detected. Cataracts, the most common cause of visual impairment, are generated in NrCAM-deficient mice by a disorganization of lens fibers, followed by cellular disintegration and accumulation of cellular debris. The disorganization of fiber cells becomes histologically distinct during late embryonic development and includes abnormalities of the cytoskeleton and of connexin50-containing gap junctions. Furthermore, analysis of lenses of ankyrin-B mutant mice also reveals a disorganization of lens fibers at postnatal day 1, indistinguishable from that generated by the absence of NrCAM, indicating that NrCAM and ankyrin-B are required to maintain contact between lens fiber cells. Also, these studies provide genetic evidence of an interaction between NrCAM and ankyrin-B.
Pubmed ID: 11449000
Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.
Biomedical technology research center that develops new technologies for modeling cell biological processes. The technologies are integrated through Virtual Cell, a problem-solving environment built on a central database and disseminated as a Web application for the analysis, modeling and simulation of cell biological processes. NRCAM resides at the Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, CCAM, and provides a vast array of laboratory equipment that can be used for obtaining experimental data needed to create and enhance Virtual Cell models. Microscopy instrumentation includes three confocal laser scanning microscopes including UV excitation, nonlinear optical microscopy utilizing a titanium sapphire pulsed laser, confocal-based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, wide-field imaging workstation with cooled CCD and rapid excitation filter wheel, and dual-wavelength spectrofluorometer. Access to the facilities and technical staff is open to all researchers.
View all literature mentionsMus musculus with name C57BL/6J from IMSR.
View all literature mentions