Cloning and characterization of a novel class VI semaphorin, semaphorin Y

Semaphorins comprise a large family of proteins implicated in axonal guidan ce. We cloned a novel transmembrane semaphorin, semaphorin Y (Sema Y), whic h has a class VI sema domain. Sema Y shows growth cone collapsing activity on DRG neurons in vitro, and the target regions of the DRG neurons express sema Y mRNA during development. Sema Y may be a stop signal for these neuro ns in their target areas. Interestingly, sema Y mRNA was also detected in o ther neurons and their targets. Two isoforms of Sema Y derived from alterna tive splicing were identified and their expression was found to be regulate d in a tissue- and age-dependent manner. Distribution of sema Y mRNA sugges ts that Sema Y might also be important during maintenance of axonal connect ions and/or differentiation and migration of cells. Sequence comparison amo ng class VI semaphorins revealed two short conserved sequence stretches in their cytoplasmic domains, suggesting interaction of these semaphorins with a common intracellular component(s).