Abstract
The semaphorin/collapsin gene family is a large and diverse family encoding both secreted and transmembrane proteins, some of which are thought to act as repulsive axon guidance molecules. However, the function of most semaphorins is still unknown. We have cloned and characterized several semaphorins in the zebrafish in order to assess their in vivo function. Zebrafish semaZ2 is expressed in a dynamic and restricted pattern during the period of axon outgrowth that indicates potential roles in the guidance of several axon pathways. Analysis of mutant zebrafish with reduced semaZ2 expression reveals axon pathfinding errors that implicate SemaZ2 in normal guidance.
Publication types
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Amino Acid Sequence
-
Animals
-
Axons / physiology
-
Branchial Region / embryology
-
Central Nervous System / embryology
-
Chickens
-
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
-
Mesencephalon / embryology
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Mutation
-
Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
-
Nerve Growth Factors / physiology*
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
-
Neural Crest / embryology
-
Notochord / embryology
-
Prosencephalon / embryology
-
RNA, Messenger
-
Rhombencephalon / embryology
-
Semaphorins
-
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
-
Spinal Cord / embryology
-
Zebrafish / embryology
-
Zebrafish / genetics
-
Zebrafish / physiology
-
Zebrafish Proteins*
Substances
-
Nerve Growth Factors
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins
-
RNA, Messenger
-
Semaphorins
-
Zebrafish Proteins
-
sema3d protein, zebrafish