Structure and Function of Roundabout Receptors

Abstract

The creation of complex neuronal networks relies on ligand-receptor interactions that mediate attraction or repulsion towards specific targets. Roundabouts comprise a family of single-pass transmembrane receptors facilitating this process upon interaction with the soluble extracellular ligand Slit protein family emanating from the midline. Due to the complexity and flexible nature of Robo receptors, their overall structure has remained elusive until now. Recent structural studies of the Robo1 and Robo2 ectodomains have provided the basis for a better understanding of their signalling mechanism. These structures reveal how Robo receptors adopt an auto-inhibited conformation on the cell surface that can be further stabilised by cis and/or trans oligmerisation arrays. Upon Slit-N binding Robo receptors must undergo a conformational change for Ig4 mediated dimerisation and signaling, probably via endocytosis. Furthermore, it’s become clear that Robo receptors do not only act alone, but as large and more complex cell surface receptor assemblies to manifest directional and growth effects in a concerted fashion. These context dependent assemblies provide a mechanism to fine tune attractive and repulsive signals in a combinatorial manner required during neuronal development. While a mechanistic understanding of Slit mediated Robo signaling has advanced significantly further structural studies on larger assemblies are required for the design of new experiments to elucidate their role in cell surface receptor complexes. These will be necessary to understand the role of Slit-Robo signaling in neurogenesis, angiogenesis, organ development and cancer progression. In this chapter, we provide a review of the current knowledge in the field with a particular focus on the Roundabout receptor family.