Background information
Plexins are a family of large, transmembrane receptors for multiple classes of semaphorins in vertebrates. They 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. Plexin-B1 and -B2 are both receptors for Sema4D, which stimulates axonal outgrowth of embryonic dorsal root ganglion neurons. . Plexin-B3 binds to Sema5A, which controls axon guidance and can initiate the intracellular signaling of the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor receptor Met.
