Structural basis for semaphorin signalling through the plexin receptor

Abstract
Semaphorin proteins mediate signal transduction by interacting with plexin receptors; they have key roles in neuronal development and many other biological processes. Here, crystal structures are presented of the semaphorin 6A receptor-binding fragment and the plexin A2 ligand-binding fragment in their pre-signalling and signalling states. On the basis of these structures, a signalling mechanism is proposed.