| Modification Notes |
SLITRK family proteins are integral membrane proteins that have a C-terminal domain that is partially similar to TRK neurotrophin receptor proteins and two leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains that are similar to those of SLIT proteins. SLIT and NTRK-like protein 1 (SLITRK1) is a 696-amino acid protein that contains 13 LRRs. SLITRK1 enhances neurite outgrowth and is expressed predominantly in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex of the brain, but is also expressed in some astrocytic brain tumors such as gangliogliomas, gliobastomas, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors. In a small percentage of affected individuals, mutations in the SLITRK1 gene may be an indirect cause of Tourette's syndrome (TS), a genetically influenced developmental neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by chronic motor and vocal tics. |