Split-Luciferase Reassembly Assay to Measure Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Contacts in Live Cells.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria contact sites play a critical role in cell health and homeostasis, such as the regulation of Ca and lipid homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics, autophagosome and mitophagosome biogenesis, and apoptosis. Failure to maintain normal ER-mitochondrial coupling is implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and hereditary spastic paraplegia. It is of considerable significance to explore how the dysregulation of ER-mitochondrial contacts could lead to cell death and whether repairing these contacts to the normal level could ameliorate neurodegenerative conditions.

ARX regulates cortical interneuron differentiation and migration.

Mutations in aristaless-related homeobox ( ) are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including developmental epilepsies, intellectual disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders, with or without brain malformations. Aspects of these disorders have been linked to abnormal cortical interneuron (cIN) development and function. To further understand ARX's role in cIN development, multiple mutant mouse lines were interrogated.