Morphogens as conserved axon guidance cues

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2007 Feb;17(1):22-8. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2007.01.006. Epub 2007 Jan 30.

Abstract

Morphogen family proteins are now widely appreciated as axon guidance cues. Because their roles as morphogens are highly conserved across phylogeny, their functional conservation in axon guidance is now being rigorously examined. Recent studies suggest that morphogens are important in shaping topographic projections in chick and Drosophila visual systems, a process that occurs even later in development.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cues
  • Growth Cones / metabolism*
  • Growth Cones / ultrastructure
  • Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Nervous System / embryology*
  • Nervous System / metabolism*
  • Netrin-1
  • Neural Pathways / embryology*
  • Neural Pathways / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Netrin-1