Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.07.23.218032v1?rss=1 Authors: Nagar, D., James, T. K., Mishra, R., Guha, S., Ghose, A. Abstract: The formin family member, Fmn2, is a neuronally enriched cytoskeletal remodelling protein conserved across vertebrates. Recent studies have implicated Fmn2 in neurodevelopmental disorders, including sensory processing dysfunction and intellectual disability in humans. Cellular characterization of Fmn2 in primary neuronal cultures has identified its function in the regulation of cell-substrate adhesion and consequently growth cone translocation. However, the role of Fmn2 in the development of neural circuits in vivo, and its impact on associated behaviours have not been tested. Using automated analysis of behaviour and systematic investigation of the associated circuitry, we uncover the role of Fmn2 in zebrafish neural circuit development. As reported in other vertebrates, the zebrafish ortholog of Fmn2 is also enriched in the developing zebrafish nervous system. We find that Fmn2 is required for the development of an excitatory interneuron pathway, the spiral fiber neuron, which is an essential circuit component in the regulation of the Mauthner cell-mediated acoustic startle response. Consistent with the loss of the spiral fiber neurons tracts, high-speed video recording revealed a reduction in the short latency escape events while responsiveness to the stimuli was unaffected. Taken together, this study provides evidence for a circuit-specific requirement of Fmn2 in eliciting an essential behaviour in zebrafish. Our findings underscore the importance of Fmn2 in neural development across vertebrate lineages and highlight zebrafish models in understanding neurodevelopmental disorders. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info