Genes encoding cell-surface proteins control nervous system development and are implicated in neurological disorders. These genes produce alternative mRNA isoforms which remain poorly characterized, impeding understanding of how disease-associated mutations cause pathology. Here we introduce a strategy to define complete portfolios of full-length isoforms encoded by individual genes. Applying this approach to neural cell-surface molecules, we identify thousands of unannotated isoforms expressed in retina and brain. By mass spectrometry we confirm expression of newly-discovered proteins on the cell surface in vivo. Remarkably, we discover that the major isoform of a retinal degeneration gene, CRB1, was previously overlooked. This CRB1 isoform is the only one expressed by photoreceptors, the affected cells in CRB1 disease. Using mouse mutants, we identify a function for this isoform at photoreceptor-glial junctions and demonstrate that loss of this isoform accelerates photoreceptor death. Therefore, our isoform identification strategy enables discovery of new gene functions relevant to disease.

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This paper investigates the influence of team characteristics and organization context factors on new product quality and compares these influences on Taiwanese (Collectivists) and American (Individualist) teams. For the Taiwanese teams, new product quality was positively affected by the capability of information integration and quality orientation of the firm, but was negatively influenced by speed-to-market pressure and level of product innovativeness. Functional and tenure diversity had no effect on new product quality. The capability of information integration in a team tended to reduce the negative effect of speed-to-market pressure on new product quality. For American teams, new product quality was positively affected by functional diversity, capability of information integration in the team, and quality orientation of the firm, but negatively influenced by supplier involvement. Customer involvement did increase the positive effect of the capability of information integration on new product quality.