| First Author | Wang H | Year | 2026 |
| Journal | EMBO Rep | Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 11 | Pages | 3099-3119 |
| PubMed ID | 42045444 | Mgi Jnum | J:388024 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:8352929 | Doi | 10.1038/s44319-026-00768-7 |
| Citation | Wang H, et al. (2026) CRL4(AMBRA1) is a key mediator for AKT-dependent cell cycle control in neural progenitor cells. EMBO Rep 27(11):3099-3119 |
| abstractText | Neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation is fundamental for population expansion and brain development. G(1) phase control determines the cell cycle duration of NPCs and thereby affects their proliferation efficiency. However, the molecular mechanisms governing G(1) phase progression in NPCs remain unclear. Here, we show that AKT gain-of-function mutations and pharmacological inhibition exert opposing effects on NPC proliferation. Consistently, Emx1-Cre-mediated deletion of Akt1/2/3 in mice impairs NPC proliferation and disrupts cortical development. We find that AKT deficiency induces G(1) phase arrest and prolongs the cell cycle of NPCs. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that AKT-mediated phosphorylation inhibits the activity of CRL4(AMBRA1) E3 ubiquitin ligase to safeguard cyclin D2 (CCND2) stability. Specifically, AKT phosphorylates DDB1, the adaptor of CRL4(AMBRA1), which disrupts its interaction with CCND2 and reduces its degradation. These findings reveal a post-translational mechanism impacting NPC cell cycle and cortical morphogenesis, providing insight into the etiology of malformations of cortical development. |
