[15] Antisense approach for study of cell adhesion molecules in central nervous system

Publisher Summary All cell types studied to date use multiple molecular mechanisms to adhere to other cells and to the extracellular matrix. Thus, the specificity of cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion must result from the integration of a number of different adhesion systems, some of which are associated with specialized cell junctions while others are not. The adhesive potential of these glycoproteins determines their general designation as cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and substrate adhesion molecules (SAMs). However, these operational designations do not always accurately reflect their biological functions. An increasing body of evidence suggests that the biological activities of several CAMs may be accounted for by a direct activation of second-messenger systems, probably by their participation in signal transduction. Although their conventional name, CAMs, does not accurately describe their complex biological functions, a more appropriate name such as “recognition molecules” was never fully accepted by the research community. Hence, the term “CAM” is generally used.