Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea.
Biomolecules. 2024 Aug 26;14(9):1060. doi: 10.3390/biom14091060.
Slitrk proteins belong the leucine-rich repeat transmembrane family and share structural similarities with the Slits and tropomyosin receptor kinase families, which regulate the development of the nervous system. Slitrks are highly expressed in the developing nervous system of vertebrates, modulating neurite outgrowth and enhancing synaptogenesis; however, the expression and function of Slitrk protein members differ. Slitrk protein variations have been associated with various sensory and neuropsychiatric conditions, including myopia, deafness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, glioma, and Tourette syndrome; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, the Slitrk family members' protein expression, roles in the signaling cascade, functions, and gene mutations need to be comprehensively studied to develop therapeutics against neurodegenerative diseases. This study presents complete and pertinent information demonstrating the relationship between Slitrk family proteins and neuropsychiatric illnesses. This review briefly discusses neurodevelopmental disorders, the leucine-rich repeat family, the Slitrk family, and the association of Slitrk with the neuropathology of representative disorders.
Slitrk 蛋白属于富含亮氨酸重复跨膜家族，与 Slits 和原肌球蛋白受体激酶家族具有结构相似性，这些家族调节神经系统的发育。Slitrks 在脊椎动物发育中的神经系统中高度表达，调节神经突生长并增强突触发生；然而，Slitrk 蛋白成员的表达和功能存在差异。Slitrk 蛋白的变异与各种感觉和神经精神疾病有关，包括近视、耳聋、强迫症、自闭症谱系障碍、精神分裂症、注意缺陷多动障碍、神经胶质瘤和妥瑞氏综合征；然而，潜在的机制仍不清楚。因此，需要全面研究 Slitrk 家族成员的蛋白表达、在信号级联中的作用、功能和基因突变，以开发针对神经退行性疾病的治疗方法。本研究提供了完整和相关的信息，展示了 Slitrk 家族蛋白与神经精神疾病之间的关系。本文简要讨论了神经发育障碍、富含亮氨酸重复家族、Slitrk 家族以及 Slitrk 与代表性疾病的神经病理学之间的关联。
