Neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1) is a member of a large family of cell-surface glycoproteins and plays a major role during development and controls various functions in the nervous system such as: cell migration, neurite growth, axonal guidance, and synaptic plasticity1. NCAM1 mediates adhesion between cells through homophilic bonds formed between its extracellular domains, which comprise five tandem Ig domains and two juxtamembrane fibronectin type III (Fn III) domains2. There are three major protein isoforms of NCAM1: 180 kd, 140 kd, and 120 kd. The 180-kd and 140-kd isoforms of NCAM1 are transmembrane proteins, whereas the 120-kd isoform is linked to the plasma membrane via a glycosyl phosphatidyl-inositol (GPI) lipid anchor.
