Intracellular kinases in semaphorin signaling

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007:600:24-37. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-70956-7_3.

Abstract

Originally identified as collapse-inducing and repellent proteins for neuronal processes, semaphorins are now implicated in a diverse array of cellular responses, contributing not only to embryonic development, but also to the maintenance of tissue integrity in the adult organism. In addition, semaphorins play a role in the pathological context. Some Semaphorins can act at a distance, facilitating the navigation of cells or axonal process, whilst others evoke responses in a contact-dependent fashion. The intracellular signaling mechanisms employed by the semaphorins are beginning to be determined, and much work in recent years implicates a host of intracellular kinases in mediating Semaphorin function. These include the tyrosine kinase Fyn and the serine/threonine kinases Cdk5, GSK3, MAPK, and LIMK, and the lipid kinase PI3K. What follows is a review of this work with respect to their functions in mediating specific semaphorin-induced responses.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Fluid / enzymology*
  • Intracellular Fluid / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Models, Neurological
  • Protein Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Kinases / physiology*
  • Semaphorins / chemistry
  • Semaphorins / metabolism
  • Semaphorins / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Semaphorins
  • Protein Kinases