New eukaryotic semaphorins with close homology to semaphorins of DNA viruses.
Semaphorins were initially described as a family of repulsive guidance molecules in embryonal development. Their basic structure consists of an N-terminal signal sequence, the defining semaphorin domain ofapproximately 500 amino acids, an Ig-like domain,and a variable carboxy-terminus. We recently described a viral semaphorin homologue encoded by the alcelaphine herpesvirus type 1. Less conserved, truncated homologues were also identified in poxviruses. Here we describe new human and murine semaphorin homologues. The respective genes were cloned and sequenced, and they were termed H-Sema-L and M-Sema-L (HGMW-approved symbols SEMAL and Semal, respectively). A multiply spliced mRNA of 3.2 kb is expressed in human placenta, spleen, thymus, and gonadal tissue. H-Sema-L maps to chromosome 15q22.3-q23 and M-Sema-L to the homologous locus 9A3.3-B in the mouse genome. The expression patterns and the presence of related genes in large DNA viruses suggest that this new semaphorin has a relevant function in the immune system.
Institut für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossgarten 4, Erlangen, 91054, Germany.
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Lange
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Liehr
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Goen
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Gebhart
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Fleckenstein
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Ensser
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001483:Base Sequence; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000737:chemistry*; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D039961:Semaphorins; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015703:Antigens, CD; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C118753:SEMA7A protein, human; C485571:Sema7a protein, mouse; D039961:Semaphorins; D014764:Viral Proteins