Polysialic acid at the cell surface: Biophysics in service of cell interactions and tissue plasticity Journal Article
| Author: | Rutishauser, U. |
| Article Title: | Polysialic acid at the cell surface: Biophysics in service of cell interactions and tissue plasticity |
| Abstract: | Polysialic acid (PSA) is a long polymer of negatively-charged sialic acid associated with the neural cell adhesion molecule. PSA serves as a potent negative regulator of cell interactions via its unusual biophysical properties. During development the abundant and regulated expression of this carbohydrate is closely correlated with axon pathfinding and targeting, and with certain aspects of muscle formation. Its level can also be modulated by synaptic activity. PSA expression is more restricted in the neonatal and adult brain, being primarily associated with regions capable of morphological or physiological changes. Studies on the function of PSA studies suggest that its primary role is to promote developmentally-controlled and activity- dependent plasticity in cell interactions and thereby facilitate changes in the structure and function of the nervous system. The presence of PSA on a variety of metastatic tumor lines has also attracted the attention of oncologists, and its late appearance in evolution raises interesting questions about the phylogeny of complex tissue formation. |
| Keywords: | adult; review; nonhuman; animals; tumor markers, biological; morphogenesis; tumor cells, cultured; nerve cell adhesion molecule; polysialic acid; tumor cell; glycosylation; cell migration; cell movement; cell interaction; cell communication; nervous system development; nerve regeneration; axons; sialic acids; neuronal plasticity; oncofetal antigen; muscle development; cell surface; biophysics; plasticity; humans; human; priority journal; neural and muscle development; tissue plasticity |
| Journal Title: | Journal of Cellular Biochemistry |
| Volume: | 70 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| ISSN: | 0730-2312 |
| Publisher: | John Wiley & Sons |
| Date Published: | 1998-09-01 |
| Start Page: | 304 |
| End Page: | 312 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1002/(sici)1097-4644(19980901)70:3<304::aid-jcb3>3.0.co;2-r |
| PUBMED: | 9706867 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Review -- Export Date: 12 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus |
