Using direct force measurements to determine the mechanism of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) function

Abstract

The molecular mechanism of homophilic adhesion between neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAM) was investigated by direct force measurements. The force-distance profiles demonstrated that multiple domains are involved in adhesion. In addition, the effect of polysialylation on the interprotein forces provided insights into the molecular mechanism by which posttranslational modification regulates NCAM function.