Primary Citation of Related Structures:   1EPF
PubMed Abstract: 
The neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, mediates cell-cell recognition and adhesion via a homophilic interaction. NCAM plays a key role during development and regeneration of the nervous system and is involved in synaptic plasticity associated with memory and learning ...
The neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, mediates cell-cell recognition and adhesion via a homophilic interaction. NCAM plays a key role during development and regeneration of the nervous system and is involved in synaptic plasticity associated with memory and learning. The 1.85 A crystal structure of the two N-terminal extracellular domains of NCAM reported here provides a structural basis for the homophilic interaction. The molecular packing of the two-domain structure reveals a cross shaped antiparallel dimer, and provides fundamental insight into trans-cellular recognition mediated by NCAM.
Related Citations: 
Expression, Crystallization and Preliminary X-Ray Analysis of the Two Amino-Terminal Ig Domains of the Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (Ncam) Kasper, C., Rasmussen, H., Berezin, V., Bock, E., Larsen, I.K. (1999) Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 55: 1598
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark.