Semaphorin 5A is a bifunctional axon guidance cue regulated by heparan and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans

David B. Kantor, Onanong Chivatakarn, Katherine L. Peer, Stephen F. Oster, Masaru Inatani, Michael J. Hansen, John G. Flanagan, Yu Yamaguchi, David W. Sretavan, Roman J. Giger, Alex L. Kolodkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

300 Scopus citations

Abstract

The response of neuronal growth cones to axon guidance cues depends on the developmental context in which these cues are encountered. We show here that the transmembrane protein semaphorin 5A (Sema5A) is a bifunctional guidance cue exerting both attractive and inhibitory effects on developing axons of the fasciculus retroflexus, a diencephalon fiber tract associated with limbic function. The thrombospondin repeats of Sema5A physically interact with the glycosaminoglycan portion of both chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). CSPGs function as precisely localized extrinsic cues that convert Sema5A from an attractive to an inhibitory guidance cue. Therefore, glycosaminoglycan bound guidance cues provide a molecular mechanism for CSPG-mediated inhibition of axonal extension. Further, axonal HSPGs are required for Sema5A-mediated attraction, suggesting that HSPGs are components of functional Sema5A receptors. Thus, neuronal responses to Sema5A are proteoglycan dependent and interpreted according to the biological context in which this membrane bound guidance cue is presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)961-975
Number of pages15
JournalNeuron
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 16 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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