Identification and characterization of a novel mouse plexin, plexin-A4.
Plexins belonging to the plexin-A subfamily form complexes with neuropilins and propagate signals of class 3 semaphorins into neurons, even though they do not directly bind the semaphorins. In this study, we identified a new member of the plexin-A subfamily in the mice, plexin-A4, and showed that it was expressed in the developing nervous system with a pattern different to that of other members of the plexin-A subfamily (plexin-A1, plexin-A2 and plexin-A3). COS-7 cells coexpressing plexin-A4 with neuropilin-1 were induced to contract by Sema3A, a member of the class 3 semaphorin. Ectopic expression of plexin-A4 in mitral cells that are originally insensitive to Sema3A resulted in the collapse of growth cones in the presence of Sema3A. These results suggest that plexin-A4 plays a role in the propagation of Sema3A activities.
Suto
Fumikazu
F
Group of Developmental Neurobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Science, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Murakami
Yasunori
Y
Nakamura
Fumio
F
Goshima
Yoshio
Y
Fujisawa
Hajime
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D019556:COS Cells; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005724:Ganglia / Q000196:embryology; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000196:embryology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000254:growth & development; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development; D040121:Semaphorin-3A
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C492114:Plxna1 protein, mouse; C492110:Plxna4 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C488217:Sema3a protein, mouse; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D039942:Neuropilin-1