title: Localization mechanisms of the axon guidance molecule UNC-6/Netrin and its receptors, UNC-5 and UNC-40, in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Netrin is an evolutionarily conserved, secretory axon guidance molecule. Netrin's receptors, UNC-5 and UNC-40/DCC, are single trans-membrane proteins with immunoglobulin domains at their extra-cellular regions. Netrin is thought to provide its positional information by establishing a concentration gradient. UNC-5 and UNC-40 act at growth cones, which are specialized axonal tip structures that are generally located at a long distance from the neural cell body. Thus, the proper localization of both Netrin and its receptors is critical for their function. This review addresses the localization mechanisms of UNC-6/Netrin and its receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans, focusing on our recent reports. These findings include novel insights on cytoplasmic proteins that function upstream of the receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan. kenogura@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goshima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075385:Netrins; D009434:Neural Pathways; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D021381:Protein Transport; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000075385:Netrins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C102174:UNC-40 protein, C elegans; C078146:UNC-6 protein, C elegans; C077588:UNC-5 protein, C elegans; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid