CNTNAP2 and autism: CNTNAP2 is a single transmembrane protein of Neurexin superfamily, localized in the post-synaptic region with a large extracellular domain and a short intracellular domain.27Cntnap2-deficient mice show core autism-relevant behaviors, including the social deficits and repetitive behavior.28 Functionally, CNTNAP2 is involved in the growth of synaptic spines, neuronal migration and neuronal network activity.29,30 RNAi-mediated knockdown of Cntnap2 globally decreases the dendritic arborization as well as spine development, resulting in a suppression of neural network activity.