title: The versatile roles of "axon guidance" cues in tissue morphogenesis.
abstract: The Netrin, Slit, Semaphorin, and Ephrin families of secreted proteins were originally characterized in the nervous system as guidance cues for axons; however, recent studies demonstrate that many members of these families contribute to the development of a variety of organs. Here, the current knowledge of their roles is discussed with a focus on four tissues: lung, mammary, cardiovascular, and kidney. While many studies indicate a role for "axon guidance" cues in regulating cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions during organogenesis, there is accumulating evidence that they also contribute to tissue development by regulating the transcription and translation of genes encoding key morphogenetic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA. hinck@biology.ucsc.edu
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hinck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000196:embryology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000196:embryology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis; D005810:Multigene Family; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D000075388:Netrin-1; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D039961:Semaphorins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000075388:Netrin-1