Glycosylation-dependent
cell adhesion molecule
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are a subset of cell surface proteins that are involved in the binding of cells with other cells or with the extracellular matrix (ECM), in a process called cell adhesion. In essence, CAMs help cells stick to each ...
-1 (GLYCAM1) is a
proteoglycan
Proteoglycans are proteins that are heavily glycosylated. The basic proteoglycan unit consists of a "core protein" with one or more covalently attached glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain(s). The point of attachment is a serine (Ser) residue to whic ...
ligand
In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule (functional group) that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. The bonding with the metal generally involves formal donation of one or more of the ligand's electr ...
expressed on cells of the
high endothelial venule High endothelial venules (HEV) are specialized post-capillary venous swellings characterized by plump endothelial cells as opposed to the usual thinner endothelial cells found in regular venules. HEVs enable lymphocytes circulating in the blood t ...
s in lymphoid tissues. It is the ligand for the receptor
L-selectin
L-selectin, also known as CD62L, is a cell adhesion molecule found on the cell surface of leukocytes, and the blastocyst. It is coded for in the human by the ''SELL'' gene. L-selectin belongs to the selectin family of proteins, which recognize s ...
allowing for naive lymphocytes to exit the bloodstream into lymphoid tissues.
GLYCAM1 binds to L-selectin by presenting one or more O-linked carbohydrates to the lectin domain of the leukocyte cell surface selectin.
Data suggests that GLYCAM1 is a hormone-regulated milk protein that is part of the milk mucin complex.
GlyCAM-1 is expressed exclusively on high endothelial venules. It is unclear how GlyCAM-1 is attached to the membrane as it lacks a transmembrane region.
External links
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References
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