DCX

DCX (pronounced: /diː siː ɛks/), also known as Doublecortin, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DCX gene.

Etymology

The term "Doublecortin" is derived from the Latin words "duplex", meaning double, and "cortex", referring to the outer layer of the brain. This name was chosen due to the protein's role in neuronal migration, which when disrupted, can lead to a condition known as double cortex syndrome.

Function

DCX is a microtubule-associated protein required for initial steps of neuronal dispersion and cortex layering during cortical development. Mutations in this gene cause abnormal migration of neurons during development and disrupt the layering of the cortex, leading to epilepsy, mental retardation, subcortical band heterotopia (double cortex) and lissencephaly.

Related Terms

• Microtubule
• Neuron
• Cerebral Cortex
• Epilepsy
• Mental Retardation
• Subcortical Band Heterotopia
• Lissencephaly

See Also

• Protein
• Gene
• Neuronal Migration

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