Canalization of circuit assembly by δ-protocadherins in the zebrafish optic tectum.

ABSTRACT: Neurons are precisely and reproducibly assembled into complex networks during development. How genes collaborate to guide this assembly remains an enduring mystery. In humans, large numbers of genes have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders that are characterized by variable and overlapping phenotypes. The complexity of the brain, the large number of genes involved and the heterogeneity of the disorders makes understanding the relationships between genes, development and neural function challenging. Waddington suggested the concept of canalization to describe the role of genes in shaping developmental trajectories that lead to precise outcomes¹. Here, we show that members of the δ-protocadherin family of homophilic adhesion molecules, Protocadherin-19 and Protocadheri

SUBMITTER: Biswas S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11838265 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature