The neurexin gene family regulates olfactory glomerular formation

Precise connectivity between specific neurons is essential for the formation of the complex neural circuitry necessary for executing intricate motor behaviors and higher cognitive functions. While trans-interactions between synaptic surface proteins have emerged as crucial elements in orchestrating the assembly of neural circuits, the proteins involved in neuronal wiring remain largely unknown. Here, using unbiased single-cell transcriptomic and mouse genetic approaches, we uncover that the neurexin family of genes enables olfactory sensory neuron (OSNs) axons to form appropriate connections with their mitral and tufted (M/T) cell synaptic partners within the mammalian olfactory system. Neurexin isoforms are differentially expressed within distinct populations of OSNs, resulting in a unique pattern of neurexin expression that is specific to each OSN type. Within OSNs, neurexins synergistically cooperate to regulate axonal sorting to designated glomeruli. This process is facilitated through the interactions of neurexins with their postsynaptic partners, including neuroligins, which have distinct expression patterns in M/T cells. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism underpinning the precise assembly of olfactory neural circuits, driven by the trans-interaction between neurexins and their ligands.