title: Longitudinal axons are guided by Slit/Robo signals from the floor plate.
abstract: Longitudinal axons grow long distances along precise pathways to connect major CNS regions. However, during embryonic development, it remains largely undefined how the first longitudinal axons choose specific positions and grow along them. Here, we review recent evidence identifying a critical role for Slit/Robo signals to guide pioneer longitudinal axons in the embryonic brain stem. These studies indicate that Slit/Robo signals from the floor plate have dual functions: to repel longitudinal axons away from the ventral midline, and also to maintain straight longitudinal growth. These dual functions likely cooperate with other guidance cues to establish the major longitudinal tracts in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA. gmastick@unr.edu
authors.forename: Grant S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Mastick
authors.forename: W Todd
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Altick
authors.forename: Hikmet Feyza
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Nural
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dugan
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Charron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins