DGCR2 is a putative adhesion receptor located in the 22q11.2 locus that functions as a novel component of the Reelin signaling complex, regulating early corticogenesis and cortical circuit assembly 1. The protein mediates cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions critical for neuronal migration and laminar positioning during brain development 1. DGCR2 is also expressed as a beta-cell-specific marker in the pancreas, making it a viable target for targeted drug delivery and molecular imaging of insulin-secreting cells 2. Mechanistically, DGCR2 regulates the phosphorylation of Reelin-dependent substrates and transcriptional targets essential for proper cortical layer formation 1. Loss of DGCR2 expression impairs projection neuron radial migration and causes persistent laminar positioning alterations 1. DGCR2 is implicated in schizophrenia pathogenesis through 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, where deletions encompassing this locus confer ~30% schizophrenia risk 3. A rare missense mutation in DGCR2 identified in idiopathic schizophrenia patients reduces protein expression and impairs corticogenesis, suggesting haploinsufficiency as a disease mechanism 1. DGCR2 genetic variants also associate with cortical thickness variations independent of schizophrenia diagnosis 4, and reduced DGCR2 expression correlates with schizophrenia status 5. Additionally, DGCR2 expression levels serve as a prognostic biomarker in muscle-invasive bladder cancer, with reduced expression associated with improved survival 6.