Molecular Association of the Neural Adhesion Molecules L1 and N‐CAM in the Surface Membrane of Neuroblastoma Cells is Shown by Chemical Cross‐linking

Abstract

The two neural cell adhesion molecules L1 and N-CAM could be shown to be associated in the surface membrane of cultured neuroblastoma cells by chemical cross-linking with 3,3'-dithiobis(sulphosuccinimidyl-propionate) and subsequent immunopurification and precipitation using antibodies to L1 and N-CAM. Glycoproteins recognized in neuroblastoma cells by antibodies to mouse liver membranes were not chemically cross-linked to L1 or N-CAM. These observations suggest that a molecular association between the two molecules may be the basis for their functional cooperativity (Kadmon et al., 1990a,b, J. Cell Biol., 110, 193-208; 209-218).