When a diffusible axon guidance cue stops diffusing: roles for netrins in adhesion and morphogenesis

Netrins are a small family of secreted proteins that are best known for their role as secreted long-range chemotropic guidance cues. Extracellular gradients of netrin protein, established by diffusion, are thought to direct cell and axon migration during neural development. In addition to this long-range role, recent findings provide increasing support for short-range functions, in which secreted netrin protein remains closely associated with its cellular source. Emerging evidence for short-range actions of netrins suggests that they contribute to tissue morphogenesis by regulating cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion.