Nature Methods | June 3, 2021

Norman M, Ter-Ovanesyan D, Trieu W, Lazarovits R, Kowal EJK, Lee JH, Chen-Plotkin AS, Regev A, Church GM and Walt DR

Nature methods. 2021;18:631-634

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01174-8

Abstract

L1CAM is a transmembrane protein expressed on neurons that was presumed to be found on neuron-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEVs) in human biofluids. We developed a panel of single-molecule array assays to evaluate the use of L1CAM for NDEV isolation. We demonstrate that L1CAM is not associated with extracellular vesicles in human plasma or cerebrospinal fluid and therefore recommend against its use as a marker in NDEV isolation protocols.