The Interactive Fly

Evolutionarily conserved developmental pathways

Axon repulsion: The role of Semaphorins/collapsins and a downstream target

The Semaphorin/collapsin family of cell surface and secreted proteins is conserved in Drosophila and vertebrates. A presumptive mediator of axon guidance signals, UNC-33, was first characterized in C. elegans. A vertebrate homolog was later found to mediated Semaphorin signals.

Drosophila                     Homologs in other species 
----------                     ----------------------------
Semaphorin I                   Mammals: Semaphorin III, Sema A-E, Sema A(V), Sema IV
                               Chickens: Collapsin

Semaphorin II                  Mammals: Semaphorin III, Sema A-E, Sema A(V), Sema IV
                               Chickens: Collapsin                                

Unknown in the fly             C. elegans: Unc 33
(Putatitive target of          Rat: TOAD-64
Semaphore signals)

date revised: 13 Oct 96

Developmental Pathways conserved in Evolution

Home page: The Interactive Fly © 1995, 1996 Thomas B. Brody, Ph.D.