SLIT and NTRK-like protein 6 is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''SLITRK6''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
.
Function
Members of the SLITRK family, such as SLITRK6, are integral membrane proteins with 2 N-terminal
leucine-rich repeat
A leucine-rich repeat (LRR) is a protein structural motif that forms an α/β horseshoe fold. It is composed of repeating 20–30 amino acid stretches that are unusually rich in the hydrophobic amino acid leucine. These tandem repeats common ...
(LRR) domains similar to those of
SLIT proteins (see
SLIT1
Slit homolog 1 protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SLIT1'' gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or '' ...
). Most SLITRKs, including SLITRK6, also have C-terminal regions that share homology with neurotrophin receptors (see
NTRK1
Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), also known as high affinity nerve growth factor receptor, neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1, or TRK1-transforming tyrosine kinase protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NTRK1'' gen ...
). SLITRKs are expressed predominantly in neural tissues and have neurite-modulating activity.
Clinical significance
Mutations in SLITRK6 cause high
myopia
Near-sightedness, also known as myopia and short-sightedness, is an eye disease where light focuses in front of, instead of on, the retina. As a result, distant objects appear blurry while close objects appear normal. Other symptoms may include ...
and deafness in humans and mice.
As a drug target
The protein is the target for the
antibody-drug conjugate
Antibody-drug conjugates or ADCs are a class of biopharmaceutical drugs designed as a targeted therapy for treating cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, ADCs are intended to target and kill tumor cells while sparing healthy cells. As of 2019, some 56 phar ...
ASG-15ME which is in phase 1 clinical trials for
urothelial cancer
Transitional cell carcinoma, also called urothelial carcinoma, is a type of cancer that typically occurs in the urinary system. It is the most common type of bladder cancer and cancer of the ureter, urethra, and urachus. It accounts for 95% of ...
.
References
Further reading
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