ABSTRACT
VI. Modulation of Expression of Leu-CAM on Leukocytes.. ...................... . l 17
VII. Biosynthesis of MoVLFA-1ILeu M5 and the Molecular Basis for Leu-CAM ...................................................................... Deficiency l 18
VIII. N-Terminal Amino Acid Sequencing and Molecular Biology of ....................................................................... Leu-CAM l 19
..................................................................... Acknowledgments l 2 l
............................................................................ References. l 2 l
An understanding of the biochemical basis of cellular interactions has been steadily increasing over the past two decades. In several developmental systems, the basis of cellular recognition has been shown to be due, in large part, to the presence of unique proteins on the plasma membrane.'-5 Several surface membrane proteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion have been isolated from neural or hepatic cells. These neural or hepatic cell adhesion molecules (N-CAM or L-CAM, respectively) appear to be of critical significance in embryonic development and morphogene~is.~,'.~ In the immune system, understanding of the phenomenon of intercellular adhesion has been facilitated by development of monoclonal antibodies to leukocyte surface molecules and the identification of an inherited disorder of leukocyte adhesion in humans which underscored the essential role of intercellular adhesion in promoting such diverse leukocyte functions as phagocytosis and cytolytic T cell activity.
