
doi: 10.1038/nn1596
pmid: 16286926
Sema3A, a prototypical semaphorin, acts as a chemorepellent or a chemoattractant for axons by activating a receptor complex comprising neuropilin-1 as the ligand-binding subunit and plexin-A1 as the signal-transducing subunit. How the signals downstream of plexin-A1 are triggered upon Sema3A stimulation, however, is unknown. Here we show that, in the presence of neuropilin-1, the FERM domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) FARP2 associates directly with plexin-A1. Sema3A binding to neuropilin-1 induces the dissociation of FARP2 from plexin-A1, resulting in activation of FARP2's Rac GEF activity, Rnd1 recruitment to plexin-A1, and downregulation of R-Ras. Simultaneously, the FERM domain of FARP2 sequesters phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase type I isoform PIPKIgamma661 from talin, thereby inhibiting its kinase activity. These activities are required for Sema3A-mediated repulsion of outgrowing axons and suppression of neuronal adhesion. We therefore conclude that FARP2 is a key molecule involved in the response of neuronal growth cones to class-3 semaphorins.
Growth Cones, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Cell Communication, Chick Embryo, Nervous System, Growth Inhibitors, Neuropilin-1, Cell Line, GTP Phosphohydrolases, Mice, Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor), Ganglia, Spinal, Cell Adhesion, Animals, Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors, Humans, Cues, Cells, Cultured, Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Protein Binding
Growth Cones, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Cell Communication, Chick Embryo, Nervous System, Growth Inhibitors, Neuropilin-1, Cell Line, GTP Phosphohydrolases, Mice, Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor), Ganglia, Spinal, Cell Adhesion, Animals, Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors, Humans, Cues, Cells, Cultured, Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Protein Binding
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