Abstract
The C. elegans sax-3 gene encodes a predicted transmembrane protein with five immunoglobulin domains and three fibronectin type III repeats that is closely related to Drosophila Robo. Mutations in sax-3 lead to repeated midline crossing by ventral cord axons that normally do not cross the midline after they join the ventral cord, a phenotype similar to that of robo mutants. sax-3 is also required for guidance of some axons to the ventral cord, implicating this gene in two different types of guidance events. A sax-3::GFP fusion gene is expressed in developing neurons during axon outgrowth, and sax-3 function is required at the time of axon guidance, suggesting that this gene mediates cell interactions during guidance decisions.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Axons / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Central Nervous System / embryology
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Central Nervous System / growth & development
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Conserved Sequence / genetics*
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Fibronectins / genetics
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Genes, Helminth / genetics
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Immunoglobulins / genetics*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Motor Neurons / chemistry
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Mutation
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Receptors, Immunologic / chemistry
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Receptors, Immunologic / genetics*
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Receptors, Immunologic / physiology
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Roundabout Proteins
Substances
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Fibronectins
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Immunoglobulins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Receptors, Immunologic
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins