ROBO4

Roundabout guidance receptor 4 (ROBO4), also known as MRB or ECSM4, is a protein that belongs to the ROBO family. As molecular guidance receptors, ROBOs interact with Slit ligand to regulate axon guidance and neuronal migration. In addition to their expression and function in the nervous system, Slits and ROBOs may function in invertebrate muscle development and provide chemotactic signals to muscle cells and leukocytes. Thus, the Slit-ROBO signaling pathway is important for both neuronal and non-neuronal cell migration.

In contrast to other ROBO family members, the expression of ROBO4 is restricted to the endothelium, notably in areas of angiogenesis. Although ROBO4 shares similar domains with other neuronal ROBO receptors, the arrangement of the extracellular domains of ROBO4 diverges significantly from that of all other ROBO family members. Despite its unusual expression pattern and divergent ligand-binding domain, ROBO4 functions similarly to other ROBO member, binding Slit and mediating inhibition of vascular endothelial cell migration.

Gene ID: 54538