Receptors for collapsin/semaphorins

Chemorepulsive signals that repel or paralyze neuronal growth cones have been found to play important roles in axon guidance in a stereotyped manner. Recent progress in the identification of neuropilins as the receptors for class III secreted collapsin/semaphorin subfamily members, which are neuronal repellents, and in the analysis of mutant mice lacking neuropilin function has confirmed the importance of these chemorepellents in axon guidance. In addition, characterization of the neuropilin protein has yielded new insights into the functions of this molecule in vascular formation and in axon guidance.