title: Slitrks as emerging candidate genes involved in neuropsychiatric disorders.
abstract: Slitrks are a family of structurally related transmembrane proteins belonging to the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) superfamily. Six family members exist (Slitrk1-6) and all are highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). Slitrks have been implicated in mediating basic neuronal processes, ranging from neurite outgrowth and dendritic elaboration to neuronal survival. Recent studies in humans and genetic mouse models have led to the identification of Slitrks as candidate genes that might be involved in the development of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Although these system-level approaches have suggested that Slitrks play prominent roles in CNS development, key questions remain regarding the molecular mechanisms through which they mediate neuronal signaling and connectivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA. ccp2001@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Catia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Proenca
authors.forename: Kate P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Shmelkov
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rafii
authors.forename: Francis S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005810:Multigene Family; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C505093:SLITRK1 protein, human; C559208:SLITRK4 protein, human