DSCAM

DSCAM is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules (Ig-CAMs), and is involved in human central and peripheral nervous system development. This gene is a candidate for Down syndrome and congenital heart disease (DSCHD). A gene encoding a similar Ig-CAM protein is located on chromosome 11.

Full Name

DS Cell Adhesion Molecule

Research Area

Cell adhesion molecule that plays a role in neuronal self-avoidance. Promotes repulsion between specific neuronal processes of either the same cell or the same subtype of cells. Mediates within retinal amacrine and ganglion cell subtypes both isoneuronal self-avoidance for creating an orderly dendritic arborization and heteroneuronal self-avoidance to maintain the mosaic spacing between amacrine and ganglion cell bodies (PubMed:10925149).

Receptor for netrin required for axon guidance independently of and in collaboration with the receptor DCC. Might also collaborate with UNC5C in NTN1-mediated axon repulsion independently of DCC (By similarity).

In spinal cord development plays a role in guiding commissural axons projection and pathfinding across the ventral midline to reach the floor plate upon ligand binding (PubMed:18585357, PubMed:19196994).

Enhances netrin-induced phosphorylation of PAK1 and FYN (PubMed:15169762).

Mediates intracellular signaling by stimulating the activation of MAPK8 and MAP kinase p38 (PubMed:18585357, PubMed:19196994).

Adhesion molecule that promotes lamina-specific synaptic connections in the retina: expressed in specific subsets of interneurons and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and promotes synaptic connectivity via homophilic interactions (By similarity).

Biological Process

Axon guidance Source: UniProtKB
Camera-type eye photoreceptor cell differentiation Source: UniProtKB
Cell adhesion Source: ProtInc
Dendrite morphogenesis Source: Ensembl
Dendrite self-avoidance Source: UniProtKB
Homophilic cell adhesion via plasma membrane adhesion molecules Source: UniProtKB
Locomotory behavior Source: Ensembl
Negative regulation of cell adhesion Source: UniProtKB
Nervous system development Source: ProtInc
Positive regulation of axon extension involved in axon guidance Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of phosphorylation Source: UniProtKB
Post-embryonic retina morphogenesis in camera-type eye Source: Ensembl
Retina layer formation Source: UniProtKB
Synapse assembly Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Isoform Short: Secreted
Isoform Long: Cell membrane; Axon; Dendrite; Growth cone; Synapse. Localized in the soma, cell membrane, axon and growth cone of dissociated commissural axons.

Topology

Extracellular: 18-1595
Helical: 1596-1616
Cytoplasmic: 1617-2012

PTM

Phosphorylated at tyrosine residues. Phosphorylation is enhanced by NTN1.