Expression patterns of two new members of the Semaphorin family in Drosophila suggest early functions during embryogenesis

We report the sequence and expression analysis of two new Drosophila member s of the Semaphorin family. Both proteins show the presence of Semaphorin d omains and transmembrane domains. Both genes are expressed maternally and i n embryos, and reveal distinct expression patterns much earlier than the on set of neurogenesis. We also present an overview of the domain structure of all so far known semaphorins in Drosophila. Furthermore. we compared all D rosophila and C. elegans Semaphorins and discuss them in the light of their evolution. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.