Complementary DNA cloning and characterization of RANDAM-2, a type I membrane molecule specifically expressed on glutamatergic neuronal cells in the mouse cerebrum.

A membrane-surface glycoprotein, RANDAM-2, is one of the neuronal cell lineage-specific antigens involved in the neuronal differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma (EC) cells and the mouse central nervous system (CNS). Complementary DNA cloning of RANDAM-2 indicated that its nucleotide sequence completely matched that of PA2.26 antigen, a sialomucin-like transmembrane glycoprotein previously found on tumorigenic keratinocytes. RANDAM-2 transcripts were detectable from the embryonic stage of 6.5 days, and then the expression continued throughout the remaining embryonic stages and adulthood, with a localization restricted to the CNS. In growth factor-induced neurospheres and adult cerebrum, RANDAM-2-expressing cells coincided well not only with nestin-positive cells but also with glutamate-positive neurons, but not with gamma-aminobutyric acid-positive ones. These results indicate that RANDAM-2 is one of the type I membrane surface antigens constitutively expressed on undifferentiated neuronal cells and the glutamatergic neuronal cells during mouse neurogenesis.