Biomaterial Database

Murine vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) proteins encoded by alternatively spliced mRNAs are differentially targeted in polarized cells. 1994

G Pirozzi, and R W Terry, and M A Labow

Deprtment of Biotechnology, Roche Research Center, Hoffmann La Roche Inc., Nutley, NJ 07110, USA.

VCAM-1 is an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily member expressed in endothelial cells that mediates adhesion to a variety of leukocytes in a VLA-4 dependent manner. In the mouse, two distinct forms of VCAM are produced. One form, VCAMTM, contains seven Ig domains followed by a single transmembrane region and a short cytoplasmic domain. A second form, VCAMGPI, which is preferentially induced by cytokines and LPS, contains only the first three Ig domains and is attached to the cell surface via a glycosylphosphafidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Both vascular and nonvascular expression of VCAM have been reported in a variety of normal and pathological settings. One possible role for the two VCAM isoforms is to allow for the targeted localization of VCAM to specific cell surface domains of polarized cells. This may be particularly relevant since VCAM is known to be expressed by two different polarized cell types, namely endothelial cells and kidney epithelial cells. In this study, MDCK cells permanently expressing either VCAMTM or VCAMGPI were established and used to examine the targeting of VCAM proteins to different polarized surface domains. VCAMTM was primarily located on the basolateral surface while VCAMGPI was located on the apical surface of polarized MDCK cells. Data is also presented that demonstrates that polarized expression is reversed in endothelial cells where VCAMTM was observed primarily on the apical surface. The differential localization of VCAM isoforms on the cell surface has direct implications for the ability of VCAM to mediate cell adhesion and transmigration.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002448	Cell Adhesion	Adherence of cells to surfaces or to other cells.	Adhesion, Cell,Adhesions, Cell,Cell Adhesions
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D014162	Transfection	The uptake of naked or purified DNA by CELLS, usually meaning the process as it occurs in eukaryotic cells. It is analogous to bacterial transformation (TRANSFORMATION, BACTERIAL) and both are routinely employed in GENE TRANSFER TECHNIQUES.	Transfections
D015815	Cell Adhesion Molecules	Surface ligands, usually glycoproteins, that mediate cell-to-cell adhesion. Their functions include the assembly and interconnection of various vertebrate systems, as well as maintenance of tissue integration, wound healing, morphogenic movements, cellular migrations, and metastasis.	Cell Adhesion Molecule,Intercellular Adhesion Molecule,Intercellular Adhesion Molecules,Leukocyte Adhesion Molecule,Leukocyte Adhesion Molecules,Saccharide-Mediated Cell Adhesion Molecules,Saccharide Mediated Cell Adhesion Molecules,Adhesion Molecule, Cell,Adhesion Molecule, Intercellular,Adhesion Molecule, Leukocyte,Adhesion Molecules, Cell,Adhesion Molecules, Intercellular,Adhesion Molecules, Leukocyte,Molecule, Cell Adhesion,Molecule, Intercellular Adhesion,Molecule, Leukocyte Adhesion,Molecules, Cell Adhesion,Molecules, Intercellular Adhesion,Molecules, Leukocyte Adhesion
D016764	Cell Polarity	Orientation of intracellular structures especially with respect to the apical and basolateral domains of the plasma membrane. Polarized cells must direct proteins from the Golgi apparatus to the appropriate domain since tight junctions prevent proteins from diffusing between the two domains.	Cell Polarities,Polarities, Cell,Polarity, Cell
D017398	Alternative Splicing	A process whereby multiple RNA transcripts are generated from a single gene. Alternative splicing involves the splicing together of other possible sets of EXONS during the processing of some, but not all, transcripts of the gene. Thus a particular exon may be connected to any one of several alternative exons to form a mature RNA. The alternative forms of mature MESSENGER RNA produce PROTEIN ISOFORMS in which one part of the isoforms is common while the other parts are different.	RNA Splicing, Alternative,Splicing, Alternative,Alternate Splicing,Nested Transcripts,Alternate Splicings,Alternative RNA Splicing,Alternative RNA Splicings,Alternative Splicings,Nested Transcript,RNA Splicings, Alternative,Splicing, Alternate,Splicing, Alternative RNA,Splicings, Alternate,Splicings, Alternative,Splicings, Alternative RNA,Transcript, Nested,Transcripts, Nested