Cloning and expressions of three mammalian homologues of Drosophila slit suggest possible roles for Slit in the formation and maintenance of the nervous system

Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1998 Nov 20;62(2):175-86. doi: 10.1016/s0169-328x(98)00224-1.

Abstract

In Drosophila embryogenesis, the slit gene has been shown to play a critical role in CNS midline formation. However, no slit homologues have been reported in vertebrates. Here, we have identified mammalian homologues of the slit gene (human Slit-1, Slit-2, Slit-3, and rat Slit-1). Each Slit gene encodes a putative secreted protein, which contains conserved protein-protein interaction domains including leucine-rich repeats (LRR) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like motifs, like that of the Drosophila protein. Northern blot analysis revealed that the human Slit-1, -2, and -3 mRNAs are exclusively expressed in the brain, spinal cord, and thyroid, respectively. In situ hybridization studies indicated that the rat Slit-1 mRNA is specifically expressed in the neurons of fetal and adult forebrains. Our data suggest that Slit genes form an evolutionary conserved group in vertebrates and invertebrates, and that the mammalian Slit proteins may participate in the formation and maintenance of the nervous and endocrine systems by protein-protein interactions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System / embryology
  • Central Nervous System / growth & development
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / embryology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Insect Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Insect Proteins / physiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
  • Nervous System / embryology
  • Nervous System / growth & development
  • Nervous System / metabolism*
  • Organ Specificity
  • Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics*
  • Protein Isoforms / physiology
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Rats / embryology
  • Rats / genetics*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction
  • Species Specificity
  • Thyroid Gland / embryology
  • Thyroid Gland / growth & development
  • Thyroid Gland / metabolism

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger
  • sli protein, Drosophila

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB017167
  • GENBANK/AB017168
  • GENBANK/AB017169
  • GENBANK/AB017170