Slit proteins: molecular guidance cues for cells ranging from neurons to leukocytes.
Recent studies of molecular guidance cues including the Slit family of secreted proteins have provided new insights into the mechanisms of cell migration. Initially discovered in the nervous system, Slit functions through its receptor, Roundabout, and an intracellular signal transduction pathway that includes the Abelson kinase, the Enabled protein, GTPase activating proteins and the Rho family of small GTPases. Interestingly, Slit also appears to use Roundabout to control leukocyte chemotaxis, which occurs in contexts different from neuronal migration, suggesting a fundamental conservation of mechanisms guiding the migration of distinct types of somatic cells.
Wong
Kit
K
Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Box 8108, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Euclid Avenue , St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Park
Hwan Tae
HT
Wu
Jane Y
JY
Rao
Yi
Y
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D002633:Chemotaxis; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; C066819:sli protein, Drosophila