title: Plexin A is a neuronal semaphorin receptor that controls axon guidance.
abstract: The Semaphorins comprise a large family of secreted and transmembrane proteins, some of which function as repellents during axon guidance. Semaphorins fall into seven subclasses. Neuropilins are neuronal receptors for class III Semaphorins. In the immune system, VESPR, a member of the Plexin family, is a receptor for a viral-encoded Semaphorin. Here, we identify two Drosophila Plexins, both of which are expressed in the developing nervous system. We present evidence that Plexin A is a neuronal receptor for class I Semaphorins (Sema 1a and Sema 1b) and show that Plexin A controls motor and CNS axon guidance. Plexins, which themselves contain complete Semaphorin domains, may be both the ancestors of classical Semaphorins and binding partners for Semaphorins.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Winberg
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Noordermeer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamagnone
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Comoglio
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Spriggs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tessier-Lavigne
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D019556:COS Cells; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D003545:Cysteine; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology*; D006579:Heterozygote; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D011485:Protein Binding; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039961:Semaphorins; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D039961:Semaphorins; C051642:fasciclin II; C116483:plexA protein, Drosophila; C116484:plexB protein, Drosophila; C091529:plexin; D003545:Cysteine