Name Yeping Zhou
Department Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Section Neurodevelopment
Function PhD-student
E-mail:
y.zhou@umcutrecht.nl tel: +31-88-75-68924
Supervisor Dr. R.J. Pasterkamp
Title research
Intracellular signal transduction mechanisms in axon guidance
Summary research Axon guidance is essential for the proper wiring of the nervous system. The accurate navigation of extending axons relies on extracellular guidance cues, cell surface receptors, and intracellular signal transduction pathways, which together guide axons to their proper synaptic targets. Semaphorins are such guidance cues regulating the formation of numerous different axon tracts. Semaphorins exert their axon repellent or attractive effects by binding and activating a receptor complex containing plexinAs and neuropilins on the growth cone cell surface. However, the intracellular signaling mechanisms that are (in)activated as a result of semaphorin ligand-receptor binding are largely unknown. Several lines of recent evidence support a key role for members of the MICAL family of intracellular signaling cues in semaphorin signaling. First, neuronal MICAL, neuropilin and plexinA expression patterns overlap. Second, mouse MICALs interact with mouse plexins in vitro. Third, flavoprotein monooxygenase inhibitors with the potential to inhibit the MICAL FAD-binding domain neutralize axon repulsion induced by semaphorins. The overall aim of my project is to further establish the role of MICALs in semaphorin signaling.
PublicationsZhou Y, Gunput RA and Pasterkamp RJ (2008) Semaphorin signaling: progress made and future prospects. Trends Biochem Sciences 33, 161-170.