Molecular switch guides neurons through developing brain, revealing opposing migration pathways

MedicalXpress | Apr 29, 2026

During brain development, neurons can regulate their movement until they reach their final destination thanks to a "molecular switch" involving the protein Teneurin 4 (Ten4). This protein can guide neuronal migration through mutually exclusive molecular pathways and determine the direction of nerve cells. The discovery, published in the journal Nature Communications, improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control neuronal migration and offers new insights into how the brain develops at the molecular level.