Involved in neural development by regulating the establishment of proper connectivity within the nervous system (PubMed:24183672, PubMed:27374343). Acts in both pre- and postsynaptic neurons in the hippocampus to control the assembly of a precise topographic projection: required in both CA1 and subicular neurons for the precise targeting of proximal CA1 axons to distal subiculum, probably by promoting homophilic cell adhesion (By similarity). Required by retinal ganglion cells for acquisition of their correct morphological and functional connectivity, thereby playing a key role in the development of the visual pathway (PubMed:24183672, PubMed:27374343). Homodimer; disulfide-linked; to mediate homophilic cell adhesion. Expressed by retinal ganglion cells and their presynaptic amacrine and postsynaptic tectal cell targets. Expressed at the notochord and the somite around tailbud stage. At 14 hours post-fertilization (hpf), expressed in the somites, notochord, and the brain. Found in the rhombomere 3 (r3) and r5. Expressed in the optic vesicles and a region covering the caudal diencephalon and the mesencephalon with the strongest expression at its most anterior part. Mesodermal expression is observed in both forming and formed somites. In forming and newly formed somites, transcripts are distributed evenly. In contrast, distribution in somites located on more anterior trunk seems to be uneven, strongest in the ventral, intermediate in the dorsal, and weakest in the medial parts. At 23 hpf, there is no expression in the medial parts of somites. Expression in somites fades away by 36 hpf. At 20 hpf, additional expression is detected in the pharyngeal arches. Morpholino knockdown of the protein causes retinal ganglion cell dendrite stratification defects within the inner plexiform layer, as well as mistargeting of dendritic processes into outer portions of the retina. Belongs to the tenascin family. Teneurin subfamily.