Slit proteins: key regulators of axon guidance, axonal branching, and cell migration.

In the past year, Slit proteins have been identified as important regulators of axon guidance and cell migration in Drosophila and vertebrates. Remarkably, they were simultaneously identified as negative regulators, repelling various axonal and cell migrations in both invertebrates and vertebrates, and as positive regulators, stimulating branching and extension of at least one class of axons in vertebrates.