Background of the antigen
Plexins are a family of large, transmembrane receptors for multiple classes of semaphorins in vertebrates. Plexins are widely expressed, and regions of their extracellular domain are homologus to both scatter factor receptors and semaphorin domains. Plexins may act as semaphorin receptors alone or in combination with neuropilins. Plexins are divided into four subfamilies designated plexin-A, -B, -C, and -D. Drosophila plexin-A is a receptor for class I semaphorins and controls motor and axon guidance. Plexin-A3 mediates cell-repelling cues. Plexins B and C are receptors for Sema 4 and Sema 7, respectively.
