The L1 subgroup of the immunoglobulin G superfamily participates in neurite outgrowth, neurite fasciculation and inter-neuronal adhesion. Almost all functional studies of the L1 family have focused on their role in neurons. In this issue of the Journal of Cell Biology (Tait et al. 2000), the 155kD isoform of neurofascin, an ankyrin binding member of the L1 family is identified as the first glial constituent of the paranodal axo-glial junction. As the major anchor between myelin and axons, these septate-like junctions are also thought to contain the molecular orchestrators for the polarization of axonal and myelin membranes into nodes of Ranvier. The importance of this polarization and how it may occur is the focus of this commentary.
The sophisticated executive and motor functions we utilize to compete and survive depend upon rapid communication between...
