SLIT And NTRK Like Protein 4 (SLITRK4)

SLITRK4 encodes a transmembrane protein belonging to the the SLITRK family. These family members include two N-terminal leucine-rich repeat domains similar to those found in the axonal growth-controlling protein SLIT, as well as C-terminal regions similar to neurotrophin receptors. Studies of an homologous protein in mouse suggest that this family member functions to suppress neurite outgrowth. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. The deduced 837-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 96.3 kD. It shares more than 95% homology with mouse Slitrk4 and has the same protein structure. Northern blot analysis detected SLITRK4 transcripts of 8.7 and 6.9 kb mainly in adult and fetal neural tissues, with highest expression in adult cerebral cortex.