Neuron-Specific Deletion of in Mice Leads to Neuroanatomical and Locomotor Deficits.

Scribble (Scrib) is a conserved polarity protein acting as a scaffold involved in multiple cellular and developmental processes. Recent evidence from our group indicates that is also essential for brain development as early global deletion of in the dorsal telencephalon induced cortical thickness reduction and alteration of interhemispheric connectivity. In addition, conditional knockout (cKO) mice have behavioral deficits such as locomotor activity impairment and memory alterations. Given broad expression in multiple cell types in the brain, we decided to determine the neuronal contribution of for these phenotypes. In the present study, we further investigate the function of specifically in excitatory neurons on the forebrain formation and the control of locomotor behavior. To do so, we generated a novel neuronal glutamatergic specific cKO mouse line called Nex cKO. Remarkably, cortical layering and commissures were impaired in these mice and reproduced to some extent the previously described phenotype in global cKO. In addition and in contrast to our previous results using cKO, the cKO mutant mice exhibited significantly reduced locomotion. Altogether, the novel cKO model described in this study further highlights an essential role for in forebrain development and locomotor behavior.