biostudies-literatureUnknown7(3)Karaulanov EEThe fibronectin-leucine-rich transmembrane (FLRT) family of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins is implicated in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling, early embryonic development and neurite outgrowth. Here, we have analysed whether FLRTs may also function in cell adhesion. We find that FLRT proteins can physically interact and that FLRT-transfected cultured cells sort out from non-transfected cells, suggesting a change in adhesive properties. A similar sorting effect is also observed in Xenopus embryos and tissue aggregates. FLRT-mediated cell sorting is calcium dependent and substrate independent. Deletion analysis indicates that cell sorting requires the LRR domains, which are dispensable for FLRT-mediated FGF signalling. Conversely, sorting is independent of the cytoplasmic domain,EMBO reports283-90https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC1456895biostudies-literatureA role for fibronectin-leucine-rich transmembrane cell-surface proteins in homotypic cell adhesion.PMC1456895Niehrs CKaraulanov EEBottcher RTfalseA role for fibronectin-leucine-rich transmembrane cell-surface proteins in homotypic cell adhesion.The fibronectin-leucine-rich transmembrane (FLRT) family of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins is implicated in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling, early embryonic development and neurite outgrowth. Here, we have analysed whether FLRTs may also function in cell adhesion. We find that FLRT proteins can physically interact and that FLRT-transfected cultured cells sort out from non-transfected cells, suggesting a change in adhesive properties. A similar sorting effect is also observed in Xenopus embryos and tissue aggregates. FLRT-mediated cell sorting is calcium dependent and substrate independent. Deletion analysis indicates that cell sorting requires the LRR domains, which are dispensable for FLRT-mediated FGF signalling. Conversely, sorting is independent of the cytoplasmic domain,2006-01-01T00:00:00Z2006 Mar2025-04-19T15:47:48.771Z2019-03-27T01:26:22ZS-EPMC14568951644000410.1038/sj.embor.7400614