Recombinant human NCAM-1/CD56 protein

NCAM-1, also known as CD56, is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. It specifically binds to neuron-neuron adhesion, neurite fasciculation, outgrowth of neurites, etc. The polysialyation of NCAM-1 reduces its adhesive property and increases its neurite outgrowth promoting features. It has also been shown to be involved in the expansion of T cells and dendritic cells which play an important role in immune surveillance. This protein is preferentially expressed in NK cells and a subset of T lymphocytes that mediate MHC-unrestricted cell-mediated cytotoxicity. High expression of NCAM-1/CD56 differentiates NK cells as having an activated phenotype. CD56 (+high) NK cells mediate heightened effector functions in response to IL-12. During hematopoiesis, NCAM-1/CD56 is the prototypic marker of NK cells, also present on subset of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. In cell adhesion, it contributes to cell-cell adhesion or cell-matrix adhesion during embryonic development. In anatomic pathology, pathologists make use of it immunohistochemistry to recognize certain tumors. Recombinant human NCAM-1, fused to His-tag at C-terminus, was expressed in insect cell and purified by using conventional chromatography techniques.