Novel gene families involved in neural pathfinding.
Recent studies have uncovered a bifunctional role of the diffusible axon guidance molecules netrin-1 and UNC-6 in that they attract some axons and steer others away simultaneously. Homology screens have extended the semaphorin and collapsin family to include at least 20 members, in both secreted and membrane-bound forms. Eph-related receptors and their membrane-bound ligands, the function of which have only been characterized poorly to date, have been added to the growing number of molecules involved in axon guidance and fasciculation.
Müller
B K
BK
Department of Physical Biology, Max Planck Institüt für Entwicklungsbiologie, Spemannstrasse 35/I, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. dr@gen.mpib-tuebingen.mpg.de
Bonhoeffer
F
F
Drescher
U
U
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D005796:Genes; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D000075388:Netrin-1; D000075385:Netrins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000075385:Netrins; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C078146:UNC-6 protein, C elegans; D000075388:Netrin-1; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases