Recombinant Human NrCAM Fc Chimera Protein, CF

Recombinant Human NrCAM Fc Chimera Protein, CF Summary

Product Specifications

Product Datasheets

Carrier Free

CF stands for Carrier Free (CF). We typically add Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as a carrier protein to our recombinant proteins. Adding a carrier protein enhances protein stability, increases shelf-life, and allows the recombinant protein to be stored at a more dilute concentration. The carrier free version does not contain BSA.

In general, we advise purchasing the recombinant protein with BSA for use in cell or tissue culture, or as an ELISA standard. In contrast, the carrier free protein is recommended for applications, in which the presence of BSA could interfere.

Background: NrCAM

NrCAM, also known as Bravo, belongs to the L1 family of cell adhesion molecules which also includes L1CAM, Neurofascin, and CHL-1/L1CAM-2 (1). These molecules are type I transmembrane proteins that have 6 Ig-like domains and 4-5 fibronectin type III-like domains in their extracellular domain. L1 family cell adhesion molecules are expressed primarily in the nervous system where they share overlapping functions in controlling axonal growth and guidance (2). Mature human NrCAM is an approximately 200 kDa molecule that consists of a 1143 amino acid (aa) extracellular domain (ECD) with 6 Ig-like domains followed by 5 fibronectin type III domains; a 23 aa transmembrane segment, and a 114 aa cytoplasmic domain (3). Within the region of Ig-like domains, human NrCAM shares 92% aa sequence identity with mouse and rat NrCAM. Alternative splicing generates additional isoforms with deletions in the juxtamembrane region of the ECD plus short deletions near the N-terminus, between the 2^nd and 3^rd Ig-like domains, or following the 6^th Ig-like domain. A 140 kDa soluble fragment of the ECD can be released by proteolytic cleavage (4, 5). NrCAM is expressed on cerebellar granule neurons, retinal ganglion cells (RGC), star pyramidal cells in visual cortex, thalamocortical axons, and glial cells (4, 6-11). It is found on both axons and dendritic spines (7, 9). NrCAM mediates homophilic adhesion as well as heterophilic adhesion with Contactin, Contactin-2/TAG1, Neurofascin, PTP beta zeta, and Integrin  alpha 4 beta 1 (5, 12-15) and also interacts with Neuropilin-2, Plexin A3, and EphB2 (8-10). Depending on its interacting partners, NrCAM can promote or inhibit axon and neurite extension (6, 7, 11, 15) and mediate Semaphorin 3F induced neuronal growth cone collapse (9, 10). NrCAM plays an important role in the development of normal vision by regulating RGC axon pathfinding and mapping to the visual cortex (7, 8, 10). It is up-regulated in papillary thyroid carcinomas and the shed form can promote tumorigenesis (5, 16).

Related Research Areas

• Adhesion Molecules in Angiogenesis
• Immunoglobulin Superfamily CAMs
• Semaphorins, Plexin Receptors, and Related Molecules