Here we present a simple, rapid method for characterizing the intrinsic adhesive properties of putative cell adhesion molecules. The secreted, epitope-tagged ectodomain of a cell adhesion molecule is captured from the culture medium on small, uniform functionalized beads. These beads can then be used immediately in simple bead aggregation assays.
Emond, M. R., Jontes, J. D. Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules. J. Vis. Exp. (92), e51762, doi:10.3791/51762 (2014).