Clustered gamma-protocadherins regulate cortical interneuron programmed cell death

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.55374
• Publication Date: 2020-07-07T12:00:24Z
• Authors: Walter R Mancia Leon; Julien Spatazza; Benjamin Rakela; Ankita Chatterjee; Viraj Pande; Tom Maniatis; Andrea R Hasenstaub; Michael P Stryker; Arturo Alvarez-Bu...
• Keywords: Interneuron; Forebrain; Cell type

Cortical function critically depends on inhibitory/excitatory balance. inhibitory interneurons (cINs) are born in the ventral forebrain and migrate into cortex, where their numbers adjusted by programmed cell death. Here, we show that loss of clustered gamma protocadherins (Pcdhg), but not genes alpha or beta clusters, increased dramatically cIN BAX-dependent death mice. Surprisingly, electrophysiological morphological properties Pcdhg-deficient wild-type cINs during period were indistinguishable. Co-transplantation with interneuron precursors further reduced mutant survival, proportion cells undergoing was affected density. Transplantation also allowed us to test for contribution Pcdhg isoforms regulation We conclude Pcdhg, specifically Pcdhgc3, Pcdhgc4, Pcdhgc5, play a critical role regulating survival endogenous