CD56 (NCAM) Proteins

Protein Information

CD56, also known as neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), is a highly glycosylated transmembrane glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin family. It plays a crucial role in cell adhesion, migration, axonal growth, pathfinding, and synaptic plasticity. CD56 is ubiquitously expressed in the nervous system in isoforms ranging from 120-180 kDa and is involved in homotypic adhesion of neural cells. It mediates interactions by binding extracellular matrix components such as laminin and integrins, with polysialic modification reducing CD56-mediated adhesion. In the hematopoietic system, CD56 is expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and a subset of T cells known as NKT cells. It is also found on most neuroectodermal-derived cell lines, tissues, and neoplasms, including retinoblastoma, medulloblastoma, astrocytomas, and neuroblastoma. CD56 serves as a widely used neuroendocrine marker with high sensitivity for neuroendocrine tumors and ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Diseases associated with CD56 dysfunction include rabies and blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasms, highlighting its importance in both neural and immune system functions.

Synonyms

adhesion molecule; antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody 5.1H11; Cd56; CD-56; CD56 140 kDa isoform; E NCAM; E-NCAM; MSK39; N CAM1; NCAM; N-CAM; Ncam1; N-CAM-1; NCAM-1; NCAMC; NCAM-C; neural cell adhesion molecule; Neural cell adhesion molecule 1; neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM; sCD56; sNCAM; soluble CD56; soluble NCAM