Neurite outgrowth-promoting polypeptides containing fibronectin type III repeats and methods of use

摘要

The present invention relates to polypeptides that promote neurite outgrowth. The polypeptides contain fibronectin Type III repeats derived from a family of cell adhesion molecules characterized by having 6 immunoglobulin domains and 5 fibronectin Type III repeats. The polypeptides of this invention correspond to F80, 3-5 and 4-5 regions of the cell adhesion family members chicken Ng-CAM, chicken Nr-CAM, mouse L1CAM, human L1CAM and homologs thereof. Methods of promoting neurite outgrowth in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications are also described as are methods of making the disclosed polypeptides and devices for using thereof.