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Ectopic semaphorin-1a functions as an attractive guidance cue for developing peripheral neurons
J T Wong1, S T Wong, T P O'Connor
1Department of Anatomy, 2177 Wesbrook Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Nature Neuroscience
|August 26, 1999
Summary
Semaphorin-1a, a transmembrane semaphorin, can guide developing axons. When soluble, it disrupts pathfinding, but when overexpressed in specific regions, it acts as an attractive guidance molecule.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Semaphorins are typically inhibitory neuronal guidance molecules.
- The function of many transmembrane semaphorins remains largely unknown.
- Chemorepulsive activity is known for some semaphorins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of the transmembrane semaphorin, semaphorin-1a.
- To determine how semaphorin-1a influences axon pathfinding in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Utilized recombinant semaphorin-1a as a soluble factor.
- Examined ectopic overexpression of semaphorin-1a in defined epithelial regions.
- Observed effects on axon pathfinding in vivo.
Main Results:
- The extracellular semaphorin domain of semaphorin-1a perturbed axon pathfinding when presented as a soluble factor.
- Ectopic overexpression of semaphorin-1a steered axons as an attractive guidance molecule.
Conclusions:
- Semaphorin-1a can function as an attractive guidance molecule for axons.
- The context-dependent activity of semaphorin-1a highlights its complex role in neuronal development.