Directional guidance of neuronal migration in the olfactory system by the protein Slit.
Although cell migration is crucial for neural development, molecular mechanisms guiding neuronal migration have remained unclear. Here we report that the secreted protein Slit repels neuronal precursors migrating from the anterior subventricular zone in the telencephalon to the olfactory bulb. Our results provide a direct demonstration of a molecular cue whose concentration gradient guides the direction of migrating neurons. They also support a common guidance mechanism for axon projection and neuronal migration and suggest that Slit may provide a molecular tool with potential therapeutic applications in controlling and directing cell migration.
Wu
W
W
Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Shanghai Research Center for the Life Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Wong
K
K
Chen
J
J
Jiang
Z
Z
Dupuis
S
S
Wu
J Y
JY
Rao
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D046508:Culture Techniques; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; C066819:sli protein, Drosophila