Defining the molecular identity and morphology of glia limitans superficialis astrocytes in vertebrates.

Astrocytes are a highly abundant glial cell type and perform critical homeostatic functions in the central nervous system. Like neurons, astrocytes have many discrete heterogeneous subtypes. The subtype identity and functions are, at least in part, associated with their anatomical location and can be highly restricted to strategically important anatomical domains.

Multiplane Calcium Imaging Reveals Disrupted Development of Network Topology in Zebrafish Mutants.

Functional brain networks self-assemble during development, although the molecular basis of network assembly is poorly understood. Protocadherin-19 () is a homophilic cell adhesion molecule that is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, and influences multiple cellular and developmental events in zebrafish. Although loss of in humans and model organisms leads to functional deficits, the underlying network defects remain unknown.

δ-Protocadherins: Organizers of neural circuit assembly.

The δ-protocadherins comprise a small family of homophilic cell adhesion molecules within the larger cadherin superfamily. They are essential for neural development as mutations in these molecules give rise to human neurodevelopmental disorders, such as schizophrenia and epilepsy, and result in behavioral defects in animal models. Despite their importance to neural development, a detailed understanding of their mechanisms and the ways in which their loss leads to changes in neural function is lacking.