Fig. 8. Mechanism of ABHD4-dependent developmental anoikis.

a, b Schematic drawing illustrates the distinct ABHD4-dependent fate of normally delaminated and abnormally detached cells in the developing cerebral cortex. After cell division, healthy daughter cells downregulate ABHD4, delaminate from the ventricular wall and migrate into the cortical plate along the radial processes of RGPCs. Random developmental errors and pathological insults such as fetal alcohol exposure often destroy the adherens junctions and trigger pathological detachment. As a central mediator of developmental anoikis, ABHD4 is necessary and sufficient to induce cell death that prevents the accumulation of misplaced progenitor cells at ectopic locations. CP cortical plate, SVZ subventricular zone, VZ ventricular zone.