Authors: Delfina M. Romero, Karine Poirier, Richard Belvindrah, Imane Moutkine, Anne Houllier, Anne-Gaëlle LeMoing, Florence Petit, Anne Boland, Stephan C. Collins, Mariano Soiza-Reilly, Binnaz Yalcin, Jamel Chelly, Jean-François Deleuze, Nadia Bahi-Buisson, Fiona Francis
Published: 2022-05-18
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30443-z
Source: Full article
AbstractSubcortical heterotopias are malformations associated with epilepsy and intellectual disability, characterized by the presence of ectopic neurons in the white matter. Mouse and human heterotopia mutations were identified in the microtubule-binding protein Echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 1, EML1. Further exploring pathological mechanisms, we identified a patient with an EML1-like phenotype and a novel genetic variation inDLGAP4. The protein belongs to a membrane-associated guanylate kinase family known to function in glutamate synapses. We showed that DLGAP4 is strongly expressed in the mouse ventricular zone (VZ) from early corticogenesis, and interacts with key VZ proteins including EML1.In uteroelectroporation ofDlgap4knockdown (KD) and overexpression constructs revealed a ventricular surface phenotype including changes in progenitor cell dynamics, morphology, proliferation and neuronal migration defects. TheDlgap4KD phenotype was rescued by wild-type but not mutant DLGAP4. Dlgap4 is required for the organization of radial glial cell adherens junction components and actin cytoskeleton dynamics at the apical domain, as well as during neuronal migration. Finally,Dlgap4heterozygous knockout (KO) mice also show developmental defects in the dorsal telencephalon. We hence identify a synapse-related scaffold protein with pleiotropic functions, influencing the integrity of the developing cerebral cortex.