Secreted leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins 1-3 (Slit1-3) are secreted glycoproteins that influence axonal guidance and mediate normal neural development by acting as high-affinity signaling ligands for the repulsive guidance receptor, Roundabout (Robo. Within the developing central nervous system (CNS) of different vertebrate systems, Slit proteins are expressed in equivalent regions, suggesting a conserved function among vertebrate homologs. Slit is expressed in the midline of the central nervous system in both vertebrates and invertebrates, where it functions as a regulatory factor of mesodermal cell movement during gastrulation. Slit2 is a short range inhibitory guidance cue for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons that may mediate spatial progression of RGCs.
