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| Title | Structurally exclusive Teneurin complexes orchestrate divergent programs in early cortical development. |
|---|---|
| Journal, issue, pages | Nat Commun, Vol. 17, Issue 1, Year 2026 |
| Publish date | Apr 16, 2026 |
Authors | Miguel Berbeira-Santana / Claudia Peregrina / Kosuke Okuda / Jin Chuan Zhou / Maria Carrasquero-Ordaz / Amy V Roberts / Anne E Thomas / Evert Haanappel / Matthieu Chavent / Kamel El Omari / Lindsay A Baker / Daniel T Pederick / Els Pardon / Jan Steyaert / U Valentin Nägerl / Daniel Del Toro / Elena Seiradake / ![]() |
| PubMed Abstract | Cortical migration is a complex process in which neurons migrate along radial glial cells (RGC) to form functional layers. Teneurins (Ten1-4) play a role by interacting with Latrophilins (Lphn/ADGRL1- ...Cortical migration is a complex process in which neurons migrate along radial glial cells (RGC) to form functional layers. Teneurins (Ten1-4) play a role by interacting with Latrophilins (Lphn/ADGRL1-3). Teneurins are also known as cell adhesion molecules, but how homophilic and heterophilic Teneurin interactions are integrated is unknown. Here, single-particle-cryo-EM data of Ten2 shows that canonical Latrophilin-binding is sterically incompatible with Ten2-dimerisation, making these interactions exclusive. We engineered surface mutations that specifically disrupt Ten2-Ten2 or Ten2-Latrophilin interactions. These are transferrable to Ten4, suggesting conserved binding mechanisms. Proteomics, in-vivo-gene-editing and super-resolution-microscopy show that Ten4 is expressed along RGC fibres and that migrating neurons switch from low-to-high Ten4-expression. Ten4 expression is highest in the cortical plate where Ten4-Ten4 interactions reduce RGC-attachment. In the intermediate zone, Ten4-Latrophilin interactions are required to promote neuron-RGC association. The results show how Ten4 orchestrates different stages of cortical migration by using a structural/functional switch between high-affinity Lphn interactions and low-affinity homophilic interactions, underpinning the integration of distinct migration programmes. |
External links | Nat Commun / PubMed:41991904 / PubMed Central |
| Methods | EM (single particle) |
| Resolution | 2.55 - 3.48 Å |
| Structure data | EMDB-50975, PDB-9g2f: EMDB-50976, PDB-9g2h: EMDB-51021, PDB-9g41: EMDB-51022, PDB-9g42: |
| Chemicals | ![]() ChemComp-NAG: |
| Source |
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Keywords | CELL ADHESION / cell adhesion molecule / complex / homodimer |
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