Scientific background: |
NRP2(Neuropilin-2), also called Npn2 or VEGF165R2, encodes a member of the neuropilin family of
receptor proteins. The soluble NRP2 was secreted as a 62.5-kD protein following transfection in
Chinese hamster ovary cells. The NRP2 gene is mapped on 2q33.3. The NRP2 gene contains 17
exons and spans about 112 kb. Sema3b can act to repulse axons expressing neuropilin-2 and can
antagonize the repulsive action of Sema3a on axonal growth cones expressing neuropilin-1. This
protein may play a role in cardiovascular development, axon guidance, and tumorigenesis. Mice with
null mutations in genes encoding Sema3F, and its holoreceptor components Npn2 and plexin A3
(PLEXA3), exhibit increased dentate gyrus granule cell and cortical layer V pyramidal neuron spine
number and size, and also aberrant spine distribution. Moreover, Sema3F promotes loss of spines and
excitatory synapses in dissociated neurons in vitro, and in Npn2-null brain slices cortical layer V and
dentate gyrus granule cells exhibit increased miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. These
disparate effects of secreted semaphorins are reflected in the restricted dendritic localization of Npn2 to
apical dendrites and of Npn1 to all dendrites of cortical pyramidal neurons. |
References: |
1. Chen, H., Bagri, A., Zupicich, J. A., Zou, Y., Stoeckli, E., Pleasure, S. J., Lowenstein, D. H., Skarnes,
W. C., Chedotal, A., Tessier-Lavigne, M.Neuropilin-2 regulates the development of select cranial
and sensory nerves and hippocampal mossy fiber projections. Neuron 25: 43-56, 2000.
2. Gong, S., Zheng, C., Doughty, M. L., Losos, K., Didkovsky, N., Schambra, U. B., Nowak, N. J.,
Joyner, A., Leblanc, G., Hatten, M. E., Heintz, N.A gene expression atlas of the central nervous
system based on bacterial artificial chromosomes. Nature 425: 917-925, 2003.
3. Rossignol, M., Beggs, A. H., Pierce, E. A., Klagsbrun, M. Human neuropilin-1 and neuropilin-2 map
to 10p12 and 2q34, respectively.Genomics 57: 459-460, 1999. |