title: Switching repulsion to attraction: changing responses to slit during transition in mesoderm migration.
abstract: Slit is secreted by cells at the midline of the central nervous system, where it binds to Roundabout (Robo) receptors and functions as a potent repellent. We found that migrating mesodermal cells in vivo respond to Slit as both an attractant and a repellent and that Robo receptors are required for both functions. Mesoderm cells expressing Robo receptors initially migrate away from Slit at the midline. A few hours after migration, these same cells change their behavior and require Robo to extend toward Slit-expressing muscle attachment sites. Thus, Slit functions as a chemoattractant to provide specificity for muscle patterning.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, 519 Life Sciences Addition, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002465:Cell Movement; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; C421243:Robo2 protein, Drosophila; C066819:sli protein, Drosophila