Rat ROBO1 Antibody

Rat ROBO1 (also DUTT1) is a 170-200 kDa member of the four molecule ROBO family of guidance molecules (1-3). The term ROBO derives from round-about, a description of the circuitous pathway axons take in the absence of a functional ROBO gene (3, 4). Rat ROBO1 is a type I transmembrane (TM) glycoprotein that is synthesized as a 1651 amino acid (aa) precursor. It contains an 18 aa signal sequence, an 879 aa extracellular domain (ECD), a 21 aa transmembrane segment, and a 733 aa cytoplasmic region (5, 6). The ECD contains five C2-type Ig-like domains (aa 68-541) and three fibronectin (FN) type III domains (aa 561-864). The cytoplasmic region contains multiple 15-20 aa long CC (conserved cytoplasmic) motifs (C0-C3) (7, 8). Rat ROBO1 is likely to have at least one isoform. Based on the human and mouse gene, rat ROBO1 will utilize an alternate start site, creating an A (long) and B (short) isoform. The difference is the presence of a 32 aa extension at the N-terminus of the mature molecule (occurs in the A form) (9-12). Based on ROBO3 studies, this extension will impact the ability of ROBO1 to bind Slit (10). Rat ROBO1 ECD shares 98% and 96% aa sequence identity with mouse and human ROBO1, respectively. ROBO1 serves as a repulsing molecule for axons that cross the midline. Initially, ROBO3 allows outgrowing axons to traverse the midline/floorplate. Once crossed, axons express ROBO1 which deflects neurites attempting to recross to the ipsilateral side (13). The chemorepulsant activity of ROBO1 is dependent on ROBO1 binding to SLIT1/2. Inhibition of ROBO1 is likely due to ROBO1-ROBO3 heterophilic binding (10, 13-15).