robo3 Activators

Robo3, also known as Roundabout Guidance Receptor 3, is a protein in humans encoded by the ROBO3 gene. It's a member of the Roundabout (Robo) family, which are transmembrane proteins acting as receptors for Slit proteins. Slit-Robo interactions play crucial roles in axon guidance and neuronal migration, particularly in the development of the nervous system.Robo3 is essential for hindbrain development, specifically in the formation of commissural tracts, pathways that allow for communication between the two sides of the nervous system. It has a unique role among the Robo family in that it both facilitates and inhibits Slit-mediated repulsion, helping axons cross the midline of the nervous system where they then switch to a Robo3-mediated repulsive response to inhibitng re-crossing.

Mutations in the ROBO3 gene cause a rare disorder known as Horizontal Gaze Palsy with Progressive Scoliosis (HGPPS). Individuals with HGPPS have abnormal eye movements (due to lack of abducens nerves that control lateral eye movement) and develop progressive curvature of the spine during childhood.Robo3 is also implicated in the development and progression of various cancers, including breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, potentially due to its role in cell migration and invasion.