Molecular genetic analysis of N-cadherin structure and function

Matthew James Rock, Thomas Jefferson University

Abstract

The Ca$\sp{2+}$-dependent cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin, plays an important role in the development of the embryo. N-cadherin is the major cell adhesion molecule in specific tissues such as the neural retina and brain, although it is widely expressed throughout many developing tissues. In a step to understand the importance of this molecule, the mechanism by which N-cadherin is regulated has been studied. In order to further characterize the structure and function of NCAD90, we have utilized Pichia pastoris to express a recombinant form of the NCAD90 protein in a readily accessible form. To investigate the role or N-cadherin during retinal development, a photoreceptor specific promoter for bovine arrestin was inserted upstream of all N-cadherin with a deletion in the cytoplasmic (C-terminal) domain. An SV40 polyA sequence was inserted downstream of this truncated gene construct. A control construct was created with the promoter upstream of a $\beta$-galactosidase reporter gene. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Subject Area

Molecular biology

Recommended Citation

Rock, Matthew James, "Molecular genetic analysis of N-cadherin structure and function" (1996). ProQuest ETD Collection - Thomas Jefferson University. AAI1381334.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/dissertations/AAI1381334

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