Human Semaphorin 3E Antibody

Semaphorin 3E (Sema3E; previously SemaH) is a 90-95 kDa member of the Class 3 (secreted) semaphorins which, in human, share 40-50% amino acid (aa) sequence identity. Class 3 semaphorins are potent chemorepellents that function in axon guidance and/or vascular tip cell guidance during development (1). Sema3E is highly expressed in developing somites, where it acts as a repulsive cue for PlexinD1-expressing endothelial cells of adjacent intersomitic vessels (2, 3). Crystal structures of semaphorins reveal that the 500 aa N-terminal Sema domain forms a seven-blade beta-propeller similar to that found in integrin molecules. This is accompanied by 14 conserved cysteine residues and one or more N-glycosylation sites are thought critical for forming the secondary structure (4). C-terminal to the Sema domain, Sema3E has a consensus sequence for furin cleavage which, when used, creates a 61 kDa form that does not dimerize, and is highly expressed in tumor cell lines with metastatic potential (5, 6). Further C-terminal are a cysteine-knot plexin/semaphorin/integrin (PSI) domain, an Ig-like domain, a cysteine for dimerization and a basic domain containing another furin cleavage site. Dimerization and cleavage at the C-terminal site are required for repulsing activity of class 3 semaphorins (7). Human Sema3E shares 90%, 85% and 57% aa sequence identity with mouse, bovine and canine Sema3E, respectively. Like other semaphorins, Sema3E signaling is transduced by a transmembrane Plexin dimer, which also has a Sema domain and is coupled to kinase pathways. Unlike other Class 3 semaphorins, Sema3E binds directly to its plexin and does not require interaction with a neuropilin for activity (7). Genetic disruption of either Sema3E or PlexinD1 creates mouse mutants with excessive and disorganized vascular growth and branching, indicating the importance of this ligand-receptor pair for vascular guidance (3, 8).