Cadherin 4 assembles a family of color-selective retinal circuits that respond to light offset.

Olguin, A. G. R.; Rochon, P.-L.; Theriault, C.; Brown, T.; Cayouette, M.; Cook, E. P.; Krishnaswamy, A.

doi:10.1101/2024.05.08.593219

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.05.08.593219

Cadherin 4 assembles a family of color-selective retinal circuits that respond to light offset.

Olguin, A. G. R.·Rochon, P.-L.·Theriault, C.·Brown, T.·Cayouette, M.·Cook, E. P.·Krishnaswamy, A.

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Abstract

Retinal interneurons and projection neurons (retinal ganglion cells, RGCs) connect in specific combinations in a specialized neuropil called the inner plexiform layer (IPL). The IPL is divided into multiple sublaminae, with neurites of each neuronal type confined to one or a few layers. This laminar specificity is a major determinant of circuit specificity and circuit function. Using a combination of approaches we show that RGCs targeting IPL sublamina 1 and 3a express the adhesion molecule cadherin 4 (Cdh4). Using calcium imaging and iterative immunostaining, we classified Cdh4-RGCs into 9 types that each encode unique aspects of dark visual stimuli. Cdh4 loss selectively disrupted the layer- targeting of these RGCs, reduced their synaptic inputs from interneurons, and severely altered their visual responses. Overexpression of Cdh4 in other retinal neurons directed their neurites to s1-3a through homophilic interactions. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Cdh4 is a novel layer targeting system for nearly a third of all RGC.

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Olguin, A. G. R., Rochon, P.-L., Theriault, C., Brown, T., Cayouette, M., Cook, E. P., Krishnaswamy, A.. 2024-05-08. Cadherin 4 assembles a family of color-selective retinal circuits that respond to light offset.. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.08.593219

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