title: Metalloproteases: carving out a role in axon guidance.
abstract: Two families of metalloproteases, the matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and the A Disintegrin and Metalloproteases (ADAMs), have recently been implicated in the formation of neural connections in the developing central nervous system. Invertebrate and vertebrate axons fail to extend and/or make pathfinding errors when metalloprotease function is inhibited or absent. Culture studies suggest that this requirement for metalloprotease activity results from their ability to cleave ligands, or their receptors, so as to activate or inhibit specific axon extension or guidance signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Genes and Development Research Group, HSC 2207, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1. smcfarla@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McFarlane
mesh_terms: D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology; D008024:Ligands; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
chemical_list: D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D008024:Ligands; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; C509282:Bace1 protein, mouse