Dscam

DSCAM and Dscam are both acronyms for Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule. The case difference is significant: DSCAM refers to the human protein, and Dscam refers to its analog in Drosophila.

Of particular interest is that Dscam has over 38,000 alternative splicing forms from four variable exon clusters. (12, 48, 33 and 2 alternatives respectively.)

 

See also

• Down syndrome

References

1. Schmucker D, Clemens JC, Shu H, Worby CA, Xiao J, Muda M, Dixon JE, Zipursky SL (2000) Drosophila Dscam is an axon guidance receptor exhibiting extraordinary molecular diversity. Cell. 2000 Jun 9;101(6):671-84. Entrez PubMed 10892653
2. Li W, Guan KL (2004) The Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (DSCAM) Interacts with and Activates Pak J Biol Chem. 2004 Jul 30;279(31):32824-31. Epub 2004 May 28. Entrez PubMed 15169762
3. Wojtowicz WM, Flanagan JJ, Millard SS, Zipursky SL, Clemens JC. (2004) Alternative splicing of Drosophila Dscam generates axon guidance receptors that exhibit isoform-specific homophilic binding. Cell. 2004 Sep 3;118(5):619-33. Entrez PubMed 15339666
4. Watson FL, Puttmann-Holgado R, Thomas F, Lamar DL, Hughes M, Kondo M, Rebel VI, Schmucker D (2005) Extensive diversity of Ig-superfamily proteins in the immune system of insects. Science. 2005 Sep 16;309(5742):1874-8. Epub 2005 Aug 18. Entrez PubMed 16109846
5. Chen BE, Kondo M, Garnier A, Watson FL, Puettmann-Holgado R, Lamar DR, Schmucker D. (2006) The molecular diversity of Dscam is functionally required for neuronal wiring specificity in Drosophila. Cell. 2006 May 5;125(3):607-20. Entrez PubMed 16678102