L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM)

L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It plays critical roles in the nervous system by mediating neuron-neuron adhesion through homophilic binding and interacting with other proteins involved in axon guidance, neuronal migration/differentiation, myelination, synapse formation/stabilization. The protein consists of six immunoglobulin-like domains followed by five fibronectin type III repeats outside the membrane; it has an intracellular tail that interacts with cytoskeletal adaptor proteins. Mutations in L1CAM cause X-linked neurological syndromes collectively known as "L1 syndrome" or "CRASH" syndrome—characterized by brain malformations and intellectual/motor disabilities. Beyond its physiological role in neural development/functioning, aberrant expression of L1CAM has been implicated in multiple human cancers where it promotes tumor progression via enhanced motility/invasiveness/metastatic potential. This makes it both a disease marker and an emerging therapeutic target under investigation for oncology applications.

Other names

CD171Neural cell adhesion molecule L1N-CAM-L1NCAM-L1sL1CAMantigen identified by monoclonal antibody R1sCD171CAML1

For experimental or investigational drugs targeting this molecule in cancer, inhibition of cell migration/invasion by blocking extracellular domain interactions or downstream signaling pathways such as integrin-mediated signals or FAK pathway activation.