bioRxiv Science⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.12.07.519458

bII-spectrin is required for synaptic positioning during retinal development

Zuniga-Sanchez, E.·Goswami-Sewell, D.·Bagnetto, C.·Anderson, J. T.·Maheshwari, A.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Neural circuit assembly is a multi-step process where synaptic partners are often born at distinct developmental stages, and yet they must find each other and form precise synaptic connections with one another. This developmental process often relies on late-born neurons extending their processes to the appropriate layer to find and make synaptic connections to their early-born targets. The molecular mechanism responsible for the integration of late-born neurons into an emerging neural circuit remains unclear. Here we uncovered a new role for the cytoskeletal protein {beta}II-spectrin in properly positioning pre- and post-synaptic neurons to the developing synaptic layer. Loss of {beta}II-spectrin disrupts retinal lamination, leads to synaptic connectivity defects, and results in impaired visual function. Together, these findings highlight a new function of {beta}II-spectrin in assembling neural circuits in the mouse outer retina. HighlightsO_LIEstablished a new role for {beta}II-spectrin in assembling retinal circuits C_LIO_LI{beta}II-spectrin positions pre- and post-synaptic neurons to the developing synaptic layer C_LIO_LIEarly positioning of processes to the OPL is required for synaptogenesis C_LIO_LILoss of {beta}II-spectrin disrupts synaptic connectivity and impairs visual function C_LI

Source connections

Explore related subjects

neurosciencePreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Zuniga-Sanchez, E., Goswami-Sewell, D., Bagnetto, C., Anderson, J. T., Maheshwari, A.. 2022-12-07. bII-spectrin is required for synaptic positioning during retinal development. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.12.07.519458

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Functional validation of allele-specific LMNB1 silencing in patient-derived astrocytes as a therapeutic option for Autosomal Dominant Leukodystrophy

Adult-onset Autosomal Dominant Leukodystrophy (ADLD) is a rare fatal leukodystrophy caused by increased LMNB1 gene dosage, most commonly resulting from duplication of the LMNB1 locus. Because ADLD is a gene dosage disorder, selective reduction of pathological LMNB1 expression represents a rational therapeutic strategy. Although allele-specific RNA interference has previously been shown to lower LMNB1 levels in patient-derived fibroblasts and directly reprogrammed neurons, its therapeutic effects have not been evaluated in disease-relevant human glial cells or using functional efficacy endpoints. Here, we established human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes from ADLD patients as a human glial model in which to validate allele-specific LMNB1 silencing across molecular, cellular, and functional readouts. ADLD astrocytes recapitulated increased LMNB1 expression and characteristic nuclear abnormalities and displayed transcriptional alterations affecting extracellular matrix organization, calcium homeostasis, metabolism and RNA processing. Functionally, these cells also exhibited functional phenotypes suitable for therapeutic evaluation: astrocyte-conditioned medium impaired the viability of both murine and human oligodendroglial cultures, while conditioned-medium and direct astrocyte-seeding paradigms revealed impaired post-lesion myelin recovery in lysolecithin-treated cerebellar organotypic slices. Allele-specific LMNB1 silencing restored physiological LMNB1 levels, corrected nuclear abnormalities, attenuated astrocyte-mediated oligodendroglial toxicity, improved post-lesion myelin recovery, and was associated with selective transcriptional programs associated with extracellular support and cholesterol metabolism. Together, these findings provide molecular, cellular, and functional validation of allele-specific LMNB1 dosage correction in patient-derived human astrocytes and offer key support for LMNB1-lowering strategies in disease-relevant human glial cells.

neuroscience↗
bioRxiv2026

Perceptual integration of multisensory haptic, visual, and auditory feedback for roughness discrimination in augmented reality

Understanding how our different senses interact to shape our perception is essential to design realistic and immersive virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) experiences. The present study investigated how roughness perception can be modulated through haptic, visual, and auditory cues in AR using a vibrotactile wristband. Participants compared virtual textures varying in vibration frequency/amplitude, visual grain size, and friction sound. Results revealed strong linear relationships between stimulus parameters and perceived roughness, with haptic frequency and visual cues driving the highest discrimination performance. Adding non-informative sensory feedback reduced perceptual sensitivity, acting as noise. Individual differences emerged: participants who rated haptic as the easiest modality showed greater sensitivity to haptic variations, while visual-reliant participants performed better with visual cues. We conclude that roughness in AR can be systematically manipulated, but is vulnerable to perceptual interference from irrelevant inputs, where our work provides actionable insights for implementing optimized and adaptive AR/VR interfaces.

neuroscience↗
bioRxiv2026

Structural and functional MRI signatures of Gambling Disorder: a case-control study

Gambling disorder (GD) is a behavioural addiction that may help identify addiction-related neural features without the direct neurobiological effects of a primary substance of dependence. We examined regional grey matter volume (GMV) and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in the same well-characterised sample. Eighteen men with GD and 21 matched healthy controls underwent high-resolution structural and resting-state functional MRI. GMV was quantified across 214 cortical and subcortical regions, and seed-based rsFC analyses focused on striatal subdivisions and mesocorticolimbic regions. Group differences were evaluated using permutation testing and cluster-corrected mixed-effects modelling. GD was associated with lower GMV in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal regions and other cortical and subcortical areas, alongside higher GMV in a subset of limbic and default-mode regions. Participants with GD also showed lower connectivity between the limbic striatum and the hippocampus, thalamus and putamen. In exploratory analyses, somatomotor connectivity was positively associated with gambling severity (Problem Gambling Severity Index: Spearman's rho = 0.71, p = 0.003, false-discovery-rate-adjusted q = 0.016). Structural and functional findings overlapped spatially in regions associated with valuation, memory, reward and habit formation, but regional GMV did not mediate group differences in rsFC. These findings are broadly consistent with corticostriatal models of GD and identify candidate circuit-level differences for independent replication. Larger, more diverse and longitudinal samples are required to establish their reproducibility, temporal direction and clinical relevance.

neuroscience↗