Vertebrate homologues of C. elegans UNC-5 are candidate netrin receptors

Cues in the extracellular environment of the nervous system guide migrating cells and axons to their targets. Netrins are cues that can function as attractants and repellents. In Caenorhabditis elegans, UNC-5, a transmembrane protein, has been implicated in certain responses, with the loss of unc-5 function leading to migration defects. A report identifies two UNC-5 vertebrate homologues, defining a new immunoglobulin subfamily. This indicates that the UNC-5 homologues and the mouse rostral cerebellar malformation gene are netrin-binding proteins.