Cytoskeleton remodeling Slit-Robo signaling

SLIT-ROBO signaling

Attractive and repulsive receptors regulate cell motility and attachment in axonguidance, vascular growth, immune cell regulation and tumor progression. There is strongevidence that development of the nervous and vascular systems is controlled by commoncues.

Semaphorins, Ephrins, SLITs and Netrins are the four major guidance factors.Their cognate receptors are Plexins and Neuropilins, Ephs, ROBOs, UNC5 andDCC.

SLITs belong to repulsive cues. Intracellular molecular mechanisms leading torepulsive responses involve cytoskeletal reorganization.

Small GTPases play important role in this signaling [1].

Another signaling pathway that guidance signals to the regulation of cytoskeletaldynamics is the c-Abl protein kinase pathway. This pathway mediates signalsdownstream of the multiple ROBO receptors [2].

1. Wong K, Ren XR, Huang YZ, Xie Y, Liu G, Saito H, Tang H, Wen L, Brady-Kalnay SM, Mei L, Wu JY, Xiong WC, Rao Y
   Signal transduction in neuronal migration: roles of GTPase activating proteins and the small GTPase Cdc42 in the Slit-Robo pathway. Cell 2001 Oct 19;107(2):209-21
2. Wills Z, Emerson M, Rusch J, Bikoff J, Baum B, Perrimon N, Van Vactor D
   A Drosophila homolog of cyclase-associated proteins collaborates with the Abl tyrosine kinase to control midline axon pathfinding. Neuron 2002 Nov 14;36(4):611-22