Abstract |
Poly-alpha-2,8-N-acetylneuraminic acid (poly-alpha-2,8-NeuAc) is developmentally expressed in neural tissue of higher animals, where it is covalently attached to the neural cell adhesion molecule ( NCAM), a large integral membrane glycoprotein mediating cell-cell adhesion during neuronal development. NCAM exists in several molecular forms, of which only embryonic NCAM carries lengthy chains (n greater than 5) of poly-alpha-2,8-NeuAc. Chemically identical poly-alpha-2,8-NeuAc of bacterial origin is an important virulence factor in infections caused by Neisseria meningitidis group B and Escherichia coli K1, the predominant pathogens of bacterial meningitis. A quantitative enzyme-linked immunoassay was developed using monoclonal antibody (MAb) 735, an MAb specifically recognizing poly-alpha-2,8-NeuAc, and applied to CSF specimens from younger children. Poly-alpha-2,8-NeuAc contents were within the range of 20-0.2 micrograms/ml, decreasing from day 1 to day 300. Immunoprecipitation, immunoblot with a rabbit anti-mouse NCAM serum recognizing the protein part of human NCAM by cross-reactivity, affinity enrichment using immobilized MAb 735, and sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that poly-alpha-2,8-NeuAc in CSF is bound to human NCAM, probably NCAM-120.
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Authors | C Weisgerber, M Husmann, M Frosch, C Rheinheimer, W Peuckert, I Görgen, D Bitter-Suermann |
Journal | Journal of neurochemistry
(J Neurochem)
Vol. 55
Issue 6
Pg. 2063-71
(Dec 1990)
ISSN: 0022-3042 [Print] England |
PMID | 2230809
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antigens, Surface
- Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
- Immune Sera
- Sialic Acids
- neural cell surface antigen BSP-2
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Topics |
- Antigens, Surface
(cerebrospinal fluid)
- Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
(cerebrospinal fluid, immunology)
- Chromatography, Affinity
- Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Embryo, Mammalian
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Immune Sera
(immunology)
- Immunoblotting
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Precipitin Tests
- Sialic Acids
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