Patterning neuronal connections by chemorepulsion: the semaphorins.
Axonal growth cones navigate long distances along specific pathways to establish complex patterns of neuronal connections. A growing number of signals have been identified that participate in these steering decisions. This review will concentrate on a large and growing family of chemorepellents, the semaphorins. This family contains both secreted and membrane-bound proteins expressed in many neuronal and non-neuronal tissues of invertebrates and vertebrates. Ongoing studies have given us a better understanding of how their highly conserved signalling system is involved in patterning neuronal connections.
Mark
M D
MD
Molekulare Neurogenetik, Abteilung Neurochemie, Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Deutschordenstrasse 46, D-60528 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Lohrum
M
M
Püschel
A W
AW
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins