Semaphorin 4G (SEMA4G)

Semaphorins are a large family of conserved secreted and membrane associated proteins which possess a semaphorin domain and a PSI domain in the N-terminal extracellular portion. Semaphorins serve as axon guidance ligands via multimeric receptor complexes, some containing plexin proteins.

SEMA4G encodes a class 4 semaphorin. This gene and the gene for mitochondrial ribosomal protein L43 overlap at map location 10q24.31 and are transcribed in opposite directions. Sema4g is expressed early in development in the brain, spinal cord, and several sensory organs as well as specific populations of projection neurons, compatible with the well-established function of semaphorins as axon guidance molecules.