Winberg M L, Noordermeer J N, Tamagnone L, Comoglio P M, Spriggs M K, Tessier-Lavigne M, Goodman C S
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.
Cell. 1998 Dec 23;95(7):903-16. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81715-8.
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.
信号素构成了一个由分泌型和跨膜蛋白组成的大家族，其中一些在轴突导向过程中起排斥作用。信号素分为七个亚类。神经纤毛蛋白是III类信号素的神经元受体。在免疫系统中，丛状蛋白家族的成员VESPR是病毒编码信号素的受体。在这里，我们鉴定出两种果蝇丛状蛋白，它们都在发育中的神经系统中表达。我们提供证据表明丛状蛋白A是I类信号素（信号素1a和信号素1b）的神经元受体，并表明丛状蛋白A控制运动和中枢神经系统轴突导向。丛状蛋白本身含有完整的信号素结构域，可能既是经典信号素的祖先，也是信号素的结合伴侣。
