PUBLICATION

Role of semaphorins in growth cone guidance in the zebrafish embryo

Authors
Kuwada, J.Y.
ID
ZDB-PUB-981110-6
Date
1997
Source
Neuroscience research   21 sup. 1: 4 (Abstract)
Registered Authors
Kuwada, John
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
none Full text @ Neurosci. Res.
Abstract
Growth cones are guided to their targets by a variety of mechanisms including repulsive ones. Among molecules that can repel growth cones are members of the Semaphorin/Collapsin family. In order to examine how Semaphorins affect the behavior of growth cones in developing embryos, we cloned and analyzed sema Z1, a homolog to sema III/D/collapsin-1, in the zebrafish embryo. The expression pattern of sema Z1 suggests that it may influence specific growth cones. In support of this, we found that application of recombinant Sema Z1 collapses growth cones both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, sema Z1 is aberrantly expressed in the floating head mutant, and growth cones responsive to Sema Z1 extend aberrantly in accord with the change in expression. Finally, time lapse analysis of growth cones that are responsive to Sema Z1 shows that they collapse and retract during normal outgrowth. This suggests that Sema Z1 may normally play an important role in guiding specific growth cones.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
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Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
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Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping