A family of molecules related to collapsin in the embryonic chick nervous system.
Signaling molecules with either attractive or repulsive effects on specific growth cones are likely to play a role in guiding axons to their appropriate targets. A chick brain glycoprotein, collapsin, has been shown to be a good candidate for a repulsive guidance cue. We report here the discovery of four new molecules related to collapsin in chick brains. All contain a semaphorin domain. One is structurally very similar to collapsin but is only 50% identical in its amino acid sequence. We have named it collapsin-2. The collapsin-related genes exhibit distinct but overlapping patterns of mRNA expression in the developing spinal cord and the developing visual system. This family of collapsin-related molecules could potentially act as repulsive cues toward specific neuronal populations.
Luo
Y
Y
Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Shepherd
I
I
Li
J
J
Renzi
M J
MJ
Chang
S
S
Raper
J A
JA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002642:Chick Embryo; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology
D030161:Avian Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C094536:SEMA3D protein, Gallus gallus; D040121:Semaphorin-3A