Abstract
Plexins are receptors implicated in mediating signaling by semaphorins, a family of axonal chemorepellents. The role of specific plexins in mediating semaphorin function in vivo has not, however, yet been examined in vertebrates. Here, we show that plexin-A3 is the most ubiquitously expressed plexin family member within regions of the developing mammalian nervous system known to contain semaphorin-responsive neurons. Using a chimeric receptor construct, we provide evidence that plexin-A3 can transduce a repulsive signal in growth cones in vitro. Analysis of plexin-A3 knockout mice shows that plexin-A3 contributes to Sema3F and Sema3A signaling and that plexin-A3 regulates the development of hippocampal axonal projections in vivo.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Axons / physiology*
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Axons / ultrastructure
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Blotting, Western
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Female
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Ganglia, Spinal / chemistry
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Ganglia, Spinal / embryology
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Gene Expression
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Glycoproteins / metabolism*
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Hippocampus / growth & development*
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Hippocampus / ultrastructure*
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In Situ Hybridization
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Male
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Mutagenesis, Insertional
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / deficiency
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
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RNA, Messenger / analysis
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Receptors, Cell Surface / deficiency
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Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
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Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Semaphorin-3A
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Signal Transduction*
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Spinal Cord / chemistry
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Spinal Cord / embryology
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Superior Cervical Ganglion / chemistry
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Superior Cervical Ganglion / embryology
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Trigeminal Ganglion / chemistry
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Trigeminal Ganglion / embryology
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Xenopus
Substances
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Glycoproteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Plxna3 protein, mouse
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Sema3f protein, mouse
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Semaphorin-3A