title: Netrin-1: diversity in development.
abstract: In 1990, the discovery of three Caenorhabditis elegans genes (unc5, unc6, unc40) involved in pioneer axon guidance and cell migration marked a significant advancement in neuroscience research [Hedgecock EM, Culotti JG, Hall DH. The unc-5, unc-6, and unc-40 genes guide circumferential migrations of pioneer axons and mesodermal cells on the epidermis in C. elegans. Neuron 1990;4:61-85]. The importance of this molecular guidance system was exemplified in 1994, when the vertebrate orthologue of Unc6, Netrin-1, was discovered to be a key guidance cue for commissural axons projecting toward the ventral midline in the rodent embryonic spinal cord [Serafini T, Kennedy TE, Galko MJ, Mirzayan C, Jessell TM, Tessier-Lavigne M. The netrins define a family of axon outgrowth-promoting proteins homologous to C. elegans UNC-6. Cell 1994;78:409-424]. Since then, Netrin-1 has been found to be a critical component of embryonic development with functions in axon guidance, cell migration, morphogenesis and angiogenesis. Netrin-1 also plays a role in the adult brain, suggesting that manipulating netrin signals may have novel therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. d.bradford@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: DanaKai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.forename: Stacey J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000075388:Netrin-1; D000075385:Netrins; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C000617351:NTN1 protein, human; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000075385:Netrins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C078146:UNC-6 protein, C elegans; C077588:UNC-5 protein, C elegans; D000075388:Netrin-1