Premium
Analysis of a zebrafish semaphorin reveals potential functions in vivo
Author(s) -
Halloran Mary C.,
Severance Shawn M.,
Yee Charles S.,
Gemza Debra L.,
Raper Jonathan A.,
Kuwada John Y.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0177(199901)214:1<13::aid-dvdy2>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - semaphorin , zebrafish , axon guidance , biology , axon , microbiology and biotechnology , transmembrane protein , neuroscience , plexin , mutant , genetics , gene , receptor
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. Dev Dyn 1999;214:13–25. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.