Plexins

Plexins are receptors for class-3 semaphorins when in complex with neuropilins. On their own they are receptors for other semaphorins, some of which transduce pro tumorigenic and pro-angiogenic signals (Giordano et al., 2002; Catalano et al., 2009). We have recently identified the plexin-A4 receptor as a receptor that transduces pro-tumorigenic and pro-angiogenic signals suggesting that inhibition of its function in tumor cells may inhibit tumor progression (Kigel et al., submitted, 2011). Experiments are currently underway to explore this possibility.