Bilateral symmetric nervous systems have special midline structures that establish a partition between the two mirror image halves. Some axons project toward and across the midline in response to long-range chemoattractants emanating from the midline. The product of this gene is a member of the immu
noglobulin gene superfamily and encodes an integral membrane protein that functions in axon guidance and neuronal precursor cell migration. This receptor is activated by SLIT-family proteins, resulting in a repulsive effect on glioma cell guidance in the developing brain. A related gene is located at an adjacent region on chromosome 3. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2009]
The protein encoded by this gene is a GTPase activator, working with the GTPase CDC42 to negatively regulate neuronal migration. The encoded protein interacts with the transmembrane receptor ROBO1 to inactivate CDC42. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2016]