title: Regulation of cortical dendrite development by Slit-Robo interactions.
abstract: Slit proteins have previously been shown to regulate axon guidance, branching, and neural migration. Here we report that, in addition to acting as a chemorepellant for cortical axons, Slit1 regulates dendritic development. Slit1 is expressed in the developing cortex, and exposure to Slit1 leads to increased dendritic growth and branching. Conversely, inhibition of Slit-Robo interactions by Robo-Fc fusion proteins or by a dominant-negative Robo attenuates dendritic branching. Stimulation of neurons transfected with a Met-Robo chimeric receptor with Hepatocyte growth factor leads to a robust induction of dendritic growth and branching, suggesting that Robo-mediated signaling is sufficient to induce dendritic remodeling. These experiments indicate that Slit-Robo interactions may exert a significant influence over the specification of cortical neuron morphology by regulating both axon guidance and dendritic patterning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Whitford
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marillat
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Corey S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tessier-Lavigne
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chédotal
authors.forename: Anirvan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000235:genetics*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005333:Fetus; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; D000098552:Slit Homolog 2 Protein
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; D000098552:Slit Homolog 2 Protein; C498888:Robo2 protein, mouse; C120010:Slit1 protein, mouse; C492288:Slit1 protein, rat; C432251:Slit3 protein, mouse; C498991:Slit3 protein, rat