The role of the KIAA0319 protein in neurodevelopment .

KIAA0319 is one of the most replicated candidate genes for reading disability (dyslexia). Previous results indicate that the risk haplotype associated with dyslexia leads to a reduction of the expression levels of this gene, and knockdown by RNAi impairs neuronal migration. The KIAA0319 protein is a plasma membrane protein with domains that have been previously described as involved in cell adhesion. Our hypothesis is that this protein mediates neuronal migration through interaction with other p roteins at the cell surface. We propose to further analyse the function of KIAA0319 in neuronal migration and to study its putative role in other processes during neurodevelopment. We will identify interacting proteins, analyse the neuroanatomical effects caused by disruption/blocking of expression of the Kiaa0319 gene in animal models, and study the phenotype of a number of knockout mice, with a special focus on the behavioural effects. Our aim is to understand the different roles that the KIAA 0319 protein has in neurodevelopment and to identify which functions, when altered, may increase susceptibility to reading disability. This information will be useful for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and will also contribute to increasing our knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the acquisition of language and reading skills.