PCM1 coordinates centrosome asymmetry with polarized endosome dynamics to regulate daughter cell fate
Vertebrate radial glia progenitors (RGPs) balance self-renewal and differentiation through asymmetric cell division (ACD), which involves unequal centrosome inheritance. How centrosome asymmetry directs cell fate remains poorly understood. Here, we identify Pericentriolar material 1 (Pcm1) as a key player in this process. In zebrafish embryonic RGPs, Pcm1 is asymmetrically associated with Cep83, a mother centrosome marker. Using in vivo time-lapse imaging and nanoscale-resolution expansion microscopy, we detect Pcm1 on Notch ligand-containing endosomes, where it interacts-either directly or indirectly-with Par-3 and dynein. Loss of pcm1 disrupts endosome dynamics, increasing neuronal differentiation at the expense of RGP self-renewal. Mechanistically, Pcm1 facilitates the transition from Rab5b to Rab11a and promotes the assembly of Par-3 and dynein macromolecular complexes on recycling endosomes. Furthermore, we find conserved PARD3-PCM1-CEP83-RAB11 associations in human cortical brain organoids. Our findings uncover that Pcm1 links centrosome asymmetry to polarized endosome trafficking, thereby regulating RGP fate decisions.
Authors
- Xinye Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5947-9077)
- Ahmet Can Solak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1381-8309)
- Vincent Mouilleau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2240-5610)
- Jason Q. Garcia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5883-1630)
- Löıc A. Royer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9991-9724)
- Xiang Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3339-4806)
- Zhiqiang Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6259-915X)
- Su Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7342-0108)
- Christopher J. Wilkinson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7448-0938)
- Xiaoyu Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9634-2659)
- Yiqi Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5582-7000)
Institutions
- QB3 (US)
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US)
- Royal Holloway University of London (GB)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Huazhong Agricultural University (CN)
- Quantitative BioSciences (US)
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States) (US)
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Tsinghua University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-11-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65756-2
- Primary Topic
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- University of California, San Francisco