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. 2013 May 29;22(2):171–178. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2013.100

Shining a light on CNTNAP2: complex functions to complex disorders

Pedro Rodenas-Cuadrado 1, Joses Ho 1,2, Sonja C Vernes 1,3,*
PMCID: PMC3895625  PMID: 23714751

Abstract

The genetic basis of complex neurological disorders involving language are poorly understood, partly due to the multiple additive genetic risk factors that are thought to be responsible. Furthermore, these conditions are often syndromic in that they have a range of endophenotypes that may be associated with the disorder and that may be present in different combinations in patients. However, the emergence of individual genes implicated across multiple disorders has suggested that they might share similar underlying genetic mechanisms. The CNTNAP2 gene is an excellent example of this, as it has recently been implicated in a broad range of phenotypes including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, intellectual disability, dyslexia and language impairment. This review considers the evidence implicating CNTNAP2 in these conditions, the genetic risk factors and mutations that have been identified in patient and population studies and how these relate to patient phenotypes. The role of CNTNAP2 is examined in the context of larger neurogenetic networks during development and disorder, given what is known regarding the regulation and function of this gene. Understanding the role of CNTNAP2 in diverse neurological disorders will further our understanding of how combinations of individual genetic risk factors can contribute to complex conditions.

Keywords: CNTNAP2, neurogenetics, language disorder

Introduction

The Contactin-associated protein-like 2 gene (also known as CNTNAP2) contains 24 exons (Figure 1a) spanning 2.3 Mb at chromosome 7q35, making it the largest gene in the genome.1 Disruptions of the CNTNAP2 gene have been reported in a number of patients displaying a wide range of severe neurological disorders and association studies have implicated variants within this locus in complex traits including language impairment and autism. Given the breadth of phenotypes and disorders linked to CNTNAP2, we aim to integrate clinical, functional, evolutionary, and animal model data to understand the normal functions of CNTNAP2, and the neurobiological consequences of its disruption.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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CNTNAP2 and CASPR2. (a) The human CNTNAP2 locus at 7q35. Schematic indicating the 24 exons (black bars) of the CNTNAP2 gene. Large grey arrows indicate the experimentally identified binding regions for the transcription factors: TCF4, STOX1A, and FOXP2. Patient identified mutations and deletions as detailed in Table 1 are shown and colour-coded for the primary diagnosis of the patient with references indicated in square brackets. All mutations are heterozygous, except for the CDFE mutation (I1253X) and two Pitt–Hopkins-like ID patients (one homozygous deletion of exons 2–9 and a compound mutation deletion of exons 5–8 plus a frameshift mutation IVS10-1 G>T). The position of the SNPs detailed in Table 2 are indicated by black lines. *The SNP cluster contains the following SNPs: rs851715, rs10246256, rs2710102, rs759178, rs1922892, rs2538991, rs17236239, rs2538976, rs2710117 and rs4431523. The protein domains encoded by each exon are indicated in black below. (b) Domain structure of the human CASPR2 and drosophila Nrx-IV proteins. Despite <50% amino-acid homology between these proteins, the domain structure is very highly conserved (amino-acid similarity is given for each domain of the proteins). Discoidin=Discoidin homology domain, LamG=Laminin G domain, E=EGF-like domain, FBG-like=Fibrinogen-like region, TM= transmembrane domain, 4.1=Protein 4.1 binding domain, PDZ=PDZ interaction domain. (c) Conservation of CASPR2. Human, non-human primate, mouse and Zebra finch amino-acid sequences between amino-acids 200–267 and 336–400. The N215K change was found only in human and denisovan sequences, and the V345I change was found in human and muroid species.

CNTNAP2 and cognitive disorders

Mutations of CNTNAP2

The first report of a CNTNAP2-related disorder was a family carrying a heterozygous translocation disrupting the coding region (at intron 8) and displaying Tourette syndrome, intellectual disability and obsessive compulsive disorder.2 This chromosomal translocation likely disrupted the normal expression of genes located elsewhere in the genome. Since then, other patients have been identified with chromosomal rearrangements affecting multiple genes including CNTNAP2, which are likely to confound the effects resulting from CNTNAP2 mutation3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Table 1). However, patients carrying point mutations or microdeletions that affect only the CNTNAP2 locus have now been reported, which provides insight into the deficit caused specifically by reduction or loss of CNTNAP2;10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 (Table 1).

Table 1. Patient identified disruptions of CNTNAP2 and associated phenotypes.

Primary diagnosis Other phenotypes Language Seizures Genotype Proband (Sample size) References
Austism or ASD Not specified Not specified Not specified Intron 1 deletion ∼200kb 1 (N=1000) 18
  Mental retardation Dysarthic language Yes 12 Mb deletion 1 (N=1) 3
  Moderate intellectual dissability Speech delay Yes H275A 1 (N=942) 16
  Mild developmental delay, Hyperactivity Speech delay No Complex rearragment. 1 (N=1) 4
  Not specified Not specified Not specified N407S 1 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified N418D 1 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified Y716C 1 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified G731S (conserved) 1 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified I869T (predicted deleterious) Four probands, three families (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified R906H 2 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified R1119H (predicted deleterious) 2 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified D1129H (predicted deleterious) 2 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified A1227T 2 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified I1253T (predicted deleterious) 2 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified T1278I (predicted deleterious) 2 (N=635) 10
  Not specified Not specified Not specified Promoter deletion ∼86 kb 1 (N=41) 21
Intellectual disability Developmental delay and ‘broad spectrum ASD' Almost absent No Inversion, between exons 10–13 1 (N=1) 10
  Severe mental retardation, Autistic features Almost absent Yes (epilepsy) 11 Mb deletion 1 (N=1) 5
  Developmental delay, attention deficit, autistic traits Language delay Yes (epilepsy) 12.2 Mb deletion 2 sibs (N=2) 6
  Developmental & motor regression (prior to seizure onset) in C3 only Absent speech Yes c.1083G>A (exon 7 splice donor site; pV361V) 2 (N=99) 11
  Motor regression, congenital malformations Absent speech Yes D393R-fs-X51 (frameshift) 1 (N=99) 11
  Not specified Not specified Yes W718X 1 (N=99) 11
  Congenital malformations Absent speech No Deletion exons 2–3 1 (N=99) 11
  Not specified Absent speech Yes Deletion exons 3–4 1 (N=99) 11
  Not specified Simple speech only No Deletion exons 21–3′UTR 1 (N=99) 11
  Pitt–Hopkins like ID Absent speech Yes Deletion exons 2–9. Homozygous 2 sibs (N=179) 17
  Pitt–Hopkins like ID, Autistic behaviour Absent speech Yes Deletion exons 5–8 and exon 11 frameshift mutation IVS10-1 G>T (Compound homozygote) 1 (N=179) 17
  Developmental delay Speech problems No Deletion exons 2-3 1 (N=8) 12
  Tourette syndrome, some autistic characteristics (OCD, ritualised behaviour) Speech abnormalities No Complex rearragment, intron 8 Father+2 sibs (N=3) 2
  Congenital malformations Absent speech Not specified Translocation disrupting intron 11 Two family members 9
Schizophrenia Cognitive deterioration Deteriorated speech, communication difficulties Yes (rare) Deletion exon 9–24 1 (case study) 5
  Not specified Normal Yes (epilepsy) Deletion intron 3 1 (N=312) 5
Epilepsy Not specified Not specified Yes Deletion exon 2–4, plus second deletion (chr17p) affecting other genes 1 (N=517) 13
ADHD Growth retardation, long QT syndrome Not specified Yes (febrile) 12 Mb Deletion Twins (case study) 7
  Not specified Not specified Not specified Deletion Intron 1 1 (N=335 parent-child trios) 19
CDFE Intellectual disability, ADHD, ASD Language regression Yes (epilepsy) c.3709delG (I1253X). Homozygous 13 (N=22) 14
  Intellectual disability, ADHD, ASD Language regression Yes (epilepsy) c.3709delG (I1253X). Homozygous 1 (case study) 15
Speech delay Mild motor delay, reduced orofacial muscle tone speech delay No Deletion exons 2-4 1 (case study) 8
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One of the most informative reports of a specific loss of CNTNAP2 function came from a study of an old-order Amish population in which 13 probands were found to carry the same homozygous point mutation within CNTNAP2 (3709delG).14 This change introduced a premature stop codon (I1253X) predicted to produce a non-functional protein.14, 15 Affected children displayed a complex phenotype characterised by cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy (CDFE), mild gross motor delay and frequent seizures, following which, patients demonstrated regression of learning ability, language and social behaviours including characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.14

As more patients have been identified, it has become apparent that individuals with mutations affecting only CNTNAP2 have a similar set of core phenotypes. Most cases present with a combination of four key features; intellectual disability (ID), seizures, autistic characteristics, and language problems. ID in these patients ranges from absent to severe. Similarly, autistic characteristics can vary from full-blown autism, to broad spectrum or the presence of some autistic features, such as repetitive behaviour. The majority of these patients display some kind of language impairment, such as dysarthric language, language delay or absent speech/language. Seizures are regularly present and in some cases phenotypes may be secondary to the seizures. Other cognitive disorders that have been found in patients carrying CNTNAP2 disruptions include schizophrenia, developmental delay and ADHD. Table 1 provides a comprehensive list of patients, genotypes, and phenotypes.

Most disruptions of CNTNAP2 are heterozygous, suggesting that loss of a single allele could be sufficient to cause disorder (Table 1). However heterozygous mutations of CNTNAP2 predicted to be deleterious have also been identified in unaffected individuals. This includes four carriers of the 3709delG (I1253X) mutation in old-order Amish controls14 and a number of other point mutations in the general population.10 Thus, the type of mutation present or the genetic background on which the mutations occur may be a major factor in whether a heterozygous disruption can cause disorder. So far only three different homozygous mutations have been identified in patients, all of which cause severe disorder (either CDFE or Pitt-Hopkins-like ID),14, 17 thus it is possible that complete loss of CNTNAP2 produces a more severe effect on cognitive function. However, it should be noted that there is evidence that the CDFE mutation may not be a null allele, because it produces a potentially deleterious protein (see section ‘Understanding CASPR2 function'); thus it will be necessary to identify further patients to clarify this.

Interestingly, three patients carry intronic deletions of CNTNAP2 not predicted to alter the protein product (Figure 1a).5, 18, 19 An intron 3 deletion containing no known functional elements was identified in a schizophrenia patient who presented with seizures, but normal language.5 A deletion within intron 1 was reported in two independent patients suffering from ASD, ID and dysarthric language18 and from ADHD,19 respectively. Intron 1 contains a regulatory element bound by the FOXP2 transcription factor.20 Finally, an autistic patient was identified carrying a deletion of an putative upstream promoter region, which resulted in reduced expression levels.21 Thus, although these deletions do not interrupt the protein product, they may affect regulatory elements to produce altered functional levels of CNTNAP2.

CNTNAP2 variants are associated with complex disorders

Genome-wide association studies have also linked CNTNAP2 to complex neurological disorders, including language impairment, autism, dyslexia, schizophrenia, and depression18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 (Table 2), although causal variants have not yet been identified. Convincing evidence has linked common variants (ie, single nucleotide polymorphisms; SNPs) in the CNTNAP2 region with the most common form of language disorder in children: specific language impairment (SLI). SLI is diagnosed as abnormal language development in the absence of other medical causes such as hearing loss or autism.27 Significant association was identified for quantitative measures of expressive and receptive language ability as well as scores of non-word repetition (which are thought to relate to phonological working memory and therefore language-related processing ability) with a cluster of SNPs within introns 13–14 (Figure 1a).20, 24 Non-word repetition was similarly associated with one of these intron 13 variants (rs2710102) in a cohort of dyslexia probands.25

Table 2. Association studies linking CNTNAP2 SNPs and cognitive function.

Primary diagnosis Quantitative measure SNP Sample size Association References
Autism Age at first phrase rs1718101 1301 families Additive model of inheritance P=0.017 22
  Age at first phrase rs17236239 1301 families Recessive model of inheritance P=0.018 22
  Age at first word rs2710102 304 families Quantitative regression P=0.028 18
  Risk of autism rs7794745 217 families Transmission disequilibrium test P=0.00002 23
SLI Non-word repetition rs10246256 184 families, 181 families QTDT P=0.001, QTDT P=0.0008 20, 24
  Non-word repetition rs17236239 184 families, 181 families QTDT P=0.00005, QTDT P=0.00008 20, 24
  Non-word repetition rs2710117 184 families, 181 families QTDT P=0.0004, QTDT P=0.001 20, 24
  Non-word repetition rs2710102 184 families, 181 families QTDT P=0.002, QTDT P=0.0005 20, 24
  Non-word repetition rs851715 184 families QTDT P=0.002 20
  Non-word repetition rs759178 184 families QTDT P=0.002 20
  Non-word repetition rs1922892 184 families QTDT P=0.002 20
  Non-word repetition rs2538991 184 families QTDT P=0.002 20
  Non-word repetition rs2538976 184 families QTDT P=0.002 20
  Receptive language rs4431523 184 families QTDT P=0.003 20
  Receptive language (R) rs10246256 181 families (R) QTDT P=0.0032, (E) QTDT P=0.0062 24
  Receptive language (R) rs17236239 184 families (R) QTDT P=0.0336, (E) QTDT P=0.0071 24
  Expressive language (E) rs2710117 184 families (R) QTDT P=0.0056, (E) QTDT P=0.0189 24
  Expressive language (E) rs2710102 184 families (R) QTDT P=0.0312, (E) QTDT P=0.02 24
Dyslexia Non-word repetition rs2710102 188 family trios QTDT P=0.0174 25
Schizophrenia Risk of schizophrenia rs802524 653 patients GWAS P=0.00056 26
  Risk of schizophrenia rs802568 653 patients GWAS P=0.00089 26
Bipolar disorder Risk of bipolar disorder rs802524 1172 patients GWAS P=0.000217 26
  Risk of bipolar disorder rs802568 1172 patients GWAS P=0.0000138 26
Normal population Early communicative behaviour rs2710102 1149 normal patients Hypothesis driven GWAS P=0.0239 28
  Early communicative behaviour rs1603450 1149 normal patients Hypothesis driven GWAS P=0.0426 28
  Early communicative behaviour rs759178 1149 normal patients Hypothesis driven genome-wide SNP scan P=0.0248 28
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Strong evidence for a connection between CNTNAP2 and ASD has also emerged. A linkage and association study demonstrated an increased familial risk for autism with a SNP in intron 2 of the CNTNAP2 gene (rs7794745).23 Independent studies have highlighted significant association between other SNPs and language endophenotypes of ASD, including age at first word (rs2710102)18 and age at first phrase (rs1718101).22

Interestingly, a subset of the cluster of SNPs in intron 13–14 (rs2710102; rs759178; rs17236239; rs2538976) have been associated with early communicative behaviour in a large screen of phenotypically normal individuals,28 suggesting that genetic variance at this locus may have a role in individual differences in the general population. The multiple lines of evidence associating with the rs2710102 SNP provide strong support for contribution of this region to language endophenotypes (Table 2).

Imaging genetics has also implicated SNPs that were previously associated with autism (rs7794745 and rs2710102), and SLI, dyslexia, and communication in normal cohorts (rs2710102).29, 30, 31, 32 Carrying a ‘risk' allele at these loci seems to correlate with altered structural and functional imaging measures. It has been suggested that the effects on structural and functional brain networks seen in individuals carrying these risk variants may underlie their association with disorders such as autism, SLI and schizophrenia. It should be noted, however, that only a handful of studies have been carried out in this area and, as yet, none of these findings have been replicated independently. Further studies with larger cohorts and robust phenotypes will be needed to reveal the true relationship between CNTNAP2 variants and effects on brain structure and specific aspects of cognitive processing.

Molecular properties of CNTNAP2

Taken together, the mutation, association, and imaging data suggest that CNTNAP2 has an important role in neurocognitive development, but to understand how CNTNAP2 contributes to both normal development and disorder, it is important to understand the properties of this gene and the product it encodes.

CASPR2

CASPR2, the protein product of CNTNAP2, is a member of the neurexin superfamily of proteins that facilitate cell–cell interactions in the nervous system.33, 34 Specifically, CASPR2 is a single-pass transmembrane protein, distinguished from most other neurexins by an extracellular discoidin/neuropilin homology domain and a fibrinogen-like region (Figure 1b).35 These domains mediate cell–cell adhesions and extracellular matrix interactions.36, 37 The large extracellular region of CASPR2 also features four laminin G domains and two epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domains predicted to be involved in receptor–ligand interactions, cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. The small intracellular portion of the protein is largely involved in protein–protein interactions, and contains a type-II PDZ domain and a protein 4.1B binding site (Figure 1b).

Evolution of CASPR2

The CASPR2 protein demonstrates a high degree of conservation amongst mammals, with ∼94% amino-acid identity between human and mouse.38 The conservation is even more striking between humans and chimpanzees, where only 6 of the ∼1331 residues differ (99.5% identity). An ortholog of CNTNAP2 has been identified in Drosophila, known as Neurexin-IV (Nrx-IV) and although amino-acid identity is relatively low (<50%), these proteins display strong conservation of their domain structure (Figure 1b), suggestive of a shared functional role.

Interestingly, recent genome sequencing of an ancient Denisovan DNA sample identified an amino-acid change within CASPR2 (V345I);39 (Figure 1c). In modern humans, this residue (within a Laminin G-like domain) encodes valine, but in non-human primates, Neanderthals and Denisovans, an isoleucine is present (Figure 1c). Subtle changes to proteins such as this may have been important for the evolution of the modern human brain. However, it should be noted that isoleucine and valine share similar amino-acid properties. Moreover, this valine residue is not unique to humans, but is shared with muroid species such as mice and rats (Figure 1c). Thus, it is not clear whether this change would have a functional effect. Another nearby amino-acid variant (N215K) may be of evolutionary interest given that in modern humans and Denisovans, this position encodes asparagine. All other species, including Neanderthal, non-human primates, rodents, and songbirds have lysine at this position (Figure 1c). Functional studies are needed to shed light on any effects that may result from these evolutionarily variable amino-acid substitutions.

CNTNAP2 expression pattern

CNTNAP2 is highly expressed throughout the brain and spinal cord. During human brain development, its expression is highest in frontal and anterior lobes, striatum and dorsal thalamus.18, 40 This expression pattern recapitulates the cortico-striato-thalamic circuitry known to modulate higher order cognitive functions, including speech and language, reward, and frontal executive function. In the human cortex, CNTNAP2 is expressed in layers II–V10 with enrichment in Broca's area and other perisylvian brain regions.40 The enriched expression of CNTNAP2 in these brain regions, known to be important for speech and language, is consistent with the emerging role for CNTNAP2 in normal language development in humans.

In mice, Cntnap2 expression begins around embryonic day 14 (E14) and is broadly expressed in regions such as the developing cortex and, to a lesser extent, ganglionic eminences.40, 41 At later developmental stages and in postnatal mice, Cntnap2 is diffusely expressed in the cortex, striatum, thalamus, hypothalamus, periaqueductal grey and superior colliculus.10, 40, 41 Additionally, Cntnap2 is strongly expressed in the hippocampal formation in development and in adulthood.10, 41

Recently, Cntnap2 expression has been comprehensively analysed in the Zebra finch brain.42 Songbirds have the ability to learn and modify their vocalisations, making them a useful model for studying speech learning and sensorimotor integration. In the songbird, Cntnap2 shows a highly mosaic pallial expression pattern,42 a region with homology to the mammalian cortex.43 However, mammalian cortical layers and songbird pallial nuclei do not show a strict one-to-one correspondence.44, 45 Cntnap2 is also expressed in the songbird striatum, thalamus, Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum and brain regions homologous to the mammalian superior and inferior colliculi.42 Strikingly, compared with surrounding tissue, Cntnap2 expression shows highly differential expression patterns within specialised cortico-striato-thalamic circuitry that makes up the songbird vocal pathway.42, 46

Thus, Cntnap2 expression in the brain appears to be highly conserved between species. However, some differences do occur, mainly, the frontal cortical enrichment in humans that may point to a role in cortical evolution and the development of human cognitive specialisations.

Regulation of CNTNAP2 expression

Little is known about the regulatory programme controlling CNTNAP2 expression. To date, only four transcription factors have been shown to regulate CNTNAP2; Storkhead box 1A (STOX1A), Transcription factor 4 (TCF4), Forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) and Forkhead box P1 (FOXP1).

STOX1A is a winged-helix transcription factor that is highly expressed in the brain, but its exact expression pattern is yet to be determined. STOX1A regulates CNTNAP2 by binding to a regulatory region in intron 1 (Figure 1a).47 Increasing STOX1A expression in a human neuron-like cell line led to a decrease in both mRNA and protein levels of CNTNAP2,47 suggesting a repressive role for this transcription factor. However, STOX1A knockdown mildly increased CNTNAP2 transcript levels without affecting protein levels,47 suggesting that CNTNAP2 protein levels may be controlled by additional mechanisms, such as microRNAs.

TCF4 encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that binds near the start site of CNTNAP2 to upregulate its expression (Figure 1a).48 In humans, TCF4 is more highly expressed in the neocortex and hippocampus than in the striatum, thalamus and cerebellum.49 Mutations in TCF4 have been shown to cause Pitt–Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) and three rare TCF4 SNPs are associated with schizophrenia.17, 49, 50, 51 PTHS is characterised by severe intellectual disability, absent or severely impaired speech, characteristic facial features and epilepsy.52 Many of these features are shared with patients carrying CNTNAP2 mutations, leading researchers to test patients with PTHS-like features for CNTNAP2 mutations.17 Two mutations affecting the CNTNAP2 locus (one homozygous and one compound heterozygote) were identified in two independent pedigrees (Table 1). This suggested that disruption of the TCF4–CNTNAP2 pathway could be related to intellectual disability, seizures, and/or behavioural abnormalities.

FOXP2 encodes a transcription factor belonging to the Forkhead-box (FOX) superfamily and is expressed in areas including cortex, striatum, thalamus, and cerebellum. It was originally identified in a large multigenerational pedigree (the KE family) that display difficulties in the production of co-ordinated orofacial movements, developmental verbal dyspraxia and impaired linguistic processing.53, 54, 55 FOXP2 binds within intron 1 of CNTNAP2 to regulate gene expression (Figure 1a).20 In neuronal-like cell models and the developing human cortex, an inverse relationship has been observed between FOXP2 and CNTNAP2 expression,20, 42, 56 supporting the finding that FOXP2 represses CNTNAP2.

Another FOXP transcription factor, known as FOXP1, has been shown to downregulate CNTNAP2.16 FOXP1 and FOXP2 show highly overlapping expression patterns and can interact to co-regulate gene expression.57, 58, 59, 60 A single autistic proband was recently identified carrying mutations in both FOXP1 and CNTNAP2, suggesting a potential link between FOXP1-CNTNAP2 and ASD.16 This discovery is intriguing given that both FOXP1 and CNTNAP2 mutations have been identified in patients with mild-to-moderate ID, in the presence or absence of autistic features.61, 62

Combinatorial regulation by these and other factors are likely to be important for the precise control of CNTNAP2 expression in the developing and adult brain and disruption of these pathways could have very different phenotypic effects. For example, during development (∼E14), the activator Tcf4 is strongly expressed in upper layers of the cortex, and this may contribute to the strong expression of Cntnap2 in this region. In the developing ganglionic eminences/striatum, Cntnap2 expression is low, corresponding to high levels of the repressive factors Foxp1 and Foxp2. Thus, mutation of these different factors, or their binding sites within CNTNAP2 could result in region-specific developmental defects that may relate to observed phenotypes; for example, ID-related phenotypes that have been linked to TCF4/CNTNAP2 loss. Temporal-specific effects may also be relevant. At later stages, once the mature cortex has formed, CNTNAP2 is not expressed in layer-6 neurons, where FOXP2 expression is highest. Thus, preventing CNTNAP2 expression in layer-6 of the cortex may be important for neuronal migration and/or function in this region and may have effects, for example, on cortico-thalamic circuitry.

Understanding CASPR2 function

Although CNTNAP2 has been studied for many years, the functions of this gene are still poorly understood. Only recently have insights been gained into some of the roles that might be central to its requirement in normal development, and why disruption causes such complex neurological phenotypes.

CASPR2 and the juxtaparanode

The most well-defined role for CASPR2 is in the axon initial segment (AIS) and juxtaparanodal regions of myelinated nerves,35 where it forms a complex with contactin-2 (known as CNTN2 or TAG-1).63, 64 Formation of this complex is mediated by Protein 4.1B binding to the intracellular portion of CASPR2 and is required for the clustering of voltage-gated potassium channels at juxtaparanodes.65 These channels are involved in the rapid, saltatory conduction of nerve impulses,66 and individuals from the CDFE cohort (with homozygous CNTNAP2 mutations) display reduced potassium channel (Kv1.1) localisation in hippocampal axons.14 However, in Cntnap2-knockout mice, no difference in nerve conduction was observed in the peripheral nervous system.65, 67

CASPR2 and neuronal migration

Given that CNTNAP2 expression is high at timepoints prior to the development of neuronal myelination, additional non-juxtaparanodal roles for CASPR2 have been proposed. CDFE patients carrying homozygous mutations of CNTNAP2 displayed histological abnormalities including regions of abnormal cortical thickening, poorly defined grey and white matter junctions and abnormal density and organisation of neurons.14 In the cortex, hippocampus and amygdala astrocyte density was increased, and ectopic neurons were observed in subcortical white matter and ectopic glia in the cortex,14 suggesting involvement of CASPR2 in neuronal migration. Cntnap2-null mice also display the presence of ectopic neurons in subcortical white matter (corpus callosum) and mislocalisation of neurons within the six-layer cortex, with significant numbers of upper layer neurons found in deeper cortical layers.41 Reduced numbers of GABAergic (inhibitory) interneurons were found in the cortex, striatum and hippocampus in comparison to wild-type littermates.41 However, it is not clear if the reduction in interneurons is a migratory defect or due to other mechanisms such as aberrant neurogenesis or neuronal differentiation.

CASPR2 and neuronal networks

Recently, loss of functional CASPR2 has been shown to produce effects at the level of the neural network. CASPR2 knockdown causes decreased dendritic arborisation in mouse cortical neurons,68 suggesting a normal role in promoting outgrowth and connectivity. Axonal pathfinding defects were also observed when Nrx-IV was absent from Drosophila embryos.69 In human patients, neuronal morphology, dendrite structure, and orientation were also affected, in keeping with the effects observed in mouse and fly models.14

Subcellular fractionation studies indicated that CASPR2 and its interaction partner CNTN2 are present at the synapse.10 Furthermore, in neuronal cultures, transient Caspr2 knockdown produced decreased amplitude (but not frequency) of synaptic responses, suggesting a cell-autonomous impairment of synaptic transmission.68 However, in a mouse model of Caspr2 loss, firing rate and amplitude were not affected. Instead, a reduction of synchronicity of neuronal firing in the somatosensory cortex was detected.41 These conflicting results may be due to the different experimental setups used, or may reflect developmental differences due to transient vs endogenous knockdown of Cntnap2. The involvement of Caspr2 in synchronicity of neuronal firing is consistent with the observed effects on inhibitory interneuron function given the role they have in coordination of neural network activity.41 Interneuron function has also been implicated in disorders such as autism,70 schizophrenia,71, 72 and epilepsy,73 suggesting a possible shared mechanism by which CASPR2 could contribute to these neurological disorders.

Not all of the phenotypes found in the human patients, such as mislocalisation of potassium channels, could be observed in the mouse. This may be due to the knockout of Caspr2 in the mouse model compared with the truncated protein product present in the CDFE patients. This mutation introduces a stop codon (I1253X) that truncates the protein at the transmembrane domain. This results in the expression of a mutant version of CASPR2 containing only the extracellular domains, which is secreted from the cell.74 This extracellular version of CASPR2 may be able to interact with other ligands/receptors, and may thus have some additional deleterious effects, rather than representing a null allele.

CASPR2 and behaviour

Mice that lack Caspr2 display an onset of spontaneous seizures at ∼6 months of age.41 Prior to seizure onset, a range of behavioural differences were observed.41 Knockout mice were significantly more active, with better motor coordination and balance, and were hyper-reactive to thermal stimuli.41 Other sensory responses such as acoustic and olfactory were not impaired.41 Given the link between CNTNAP2, autism and social communication,10, 18, 28 it is intriguing to note that mutant mice displayed increased stereotyped and repetitive behaviour, and spent less time engaging in social play.41 Hence, the use of animal models, such as described herein, allow a controlled exploration of the cellular and neurobiological effects of CASPR2 loss. Taking these findings together with patient data, we can start to build a picture of how CNTNAP2 affects neurodevelopment at a cellular, network and whole-brain level.

Conclusions

CNTNAP2 mutations produce a complex disorder, yet the core endophenotypes displayed by individuals carrying CNTNAP2 disruptions are to a degree, consistent. Evidence from patient and animal model data are giving insight into the cause of these disturbances, with CASPR2 implicated in neuronal connectivity at the cellular and network level, interneuron development/function, synaptic organisation and activity and migration of neurons in the developing brain. Different effects of CNTNAP2 mutation have been observed across species and at different developmental timepoints. It will be of value in the future to separate the developmental from the adult requirements of CASPR2. Moreover to best utilise animal models, it will be necessary to determine which of the aspects of CASPR2 function are human-specific and which are evolutionary conserved. In future, genome-wide analysis of patients to exclude other deleterious changes coupled to coherent and in-depth phenotyping will provide the best evidence for the specific phenotypes caused by CNTNAP2 and how these are shared across complex disorders.

Acknowledgments

SCV is supported by a Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Fellowship. JH is supported by an A*STAR graduate scholarship.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

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