Polysialic acid is a developmentally regulated, anti-adhesive polymer that is added to N-glycans on the fifth immunoglobulin domain (Ig5) of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). We found that the first fibronectin type III repeat (FN1) of NCAM is required for the polysialylation of N-glycans on the adjacent Ig5 domain, and we proposed that the polysialyltransferases recognize specific sequences in FN1 to position themselves for Ig5 N-glycan polysialylation. Other studies identified a novel FN1 acidic surface patch and ␣-helix that play roles in NCAM polysialylation. Here, we characterize the contribution of two additional FN1 sequences, Pro
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)2 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is expressed on the cell surface where it engages in homophilic and heterophilic interactions, resulting in cell adhesion and modulation of signal transduction cascades (reviewed in Refs. 1, 2). In the developing embryo and neonate, NCAM is modified by the addition of long chains of ␣2,8-polysialic acid (3, 4). The presence of this highly hydrated and negatively charged carbohydrate polymer disrupts overall cell adhesion and allows cell migration (5-7). Polysialylation is catalyzed by the polysialyltransferases (polySTs), . NCAM polysialylation is critical during embryogenesis and early postnatal development. Mice that are null for both polySTs are born at Mendelian ratios but have severe neuronal defects, fail to thrive, and the majority die within 4 weeks of birth (12). Simultaneous deletion of NCAM and the polySTs rescues the lethal phenotype, indicating that polysialic acid is required to down-regulate the adhesive properties of NCAM during development (12). In addition, using varying allelic combinations of ST8SiaIV, ST8SiaII, and NCAM, Hildebrandt et al. (13) demonstrated that an aberrant increase in the level of unpolysialylated NCAM caused defects in brain connectivity in postnatal day 1 mice.NCAM is mainly unpolysialylated in the adult brain (3, 4). However, polysialylated NCAM does persist in specific regions of the central nervous system, including the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, where it functions in cell migration, synaptic plasticity, and repair (14 -17). Highly polysialylated NCAM is also re-expressed in several cancers, including neuroblastoma, glioma, small cell and non-small cell lung tumors, and Wilms' tumor, where it has been suggested to promote cancer invasiveness (18 -23). Recently, polysialylated NCAM has been shown to enhance metastasis of a murine model of lung cancer (24) and has been implicated in colorectal carcinoma progression (25). In addition, polysialic acid has been demonstrated to be involved in hematopoietic development (26,27). For example, ST8SiaIV Ϫ/Ϫ mice have reduced thymocyte numbers due to fewer progenitor cells mobilizing to the thymus (27).Although NCAM is by far the most abundant and well documented polysialylated protein, it is striking that only six other polysialylated glycoproteins have been identified. These are the ␣ subu...