Dcx - doublecortin

This gene encodes a member of the doublecortin family. The protein encoded by this gene is a cytoplasmic protein and contains two doublecortin domains, which bind microtubules. In the developing cortex, cortical neurons must migrate over long distances to reach the site of their final differentiation. The encoded protein appears to direct neuronal migration by regulating the organization and stability of microtubules. In addition, the encoded protein interacts with LIS1, the regulatory gamma subunit of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase. Studies in knockout mice lacking this gene and the LIS1 gene suggest that the molecular interaction of these two genes is important in both in neuronal migration and neurogenesis, and there is a cortical role of this gene in nuclear translocation and positioning of the mitotic spindle in radial glial mitotic division. Multiple transcript variants encoding three different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2010]