Background information
Semaphorins are a family of cell surface and secreted proteins that are conserved from insects to humans. Members of this family of proteins are approximately 750 amino acids in length (including signal sequences) and are defined by a conserved extracellular “semaphorin†domain of approximately 500 amino acids containing 14-16 cysteines, blocks of conserved sequences and no obvious repeats. Secreted and cell-bound semaphorins chemically attract and repel the growth of neural axons, guiding the development of intricate networks of neural tissue. SEMA3D (semaphorin-3D), also known as coll-2 or Sema-Z2, is a 777 amino acid secreted protein that belongs to the semaphorin family and participates in axon-axon interactions and neural crest activity. SEMA3D binds neuropilin and is able to induce the collapse and paralysis of neuronal growth cones, as well as act to repel specific neuronal populations. SEMA3D contains one immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domain, one PSI domain and one semaphorin domain.
