Centrosomal Protein 120kDa (CEP120)

CEP120 encodes a protein that functions in the microtubule-dependent coupling of the nucleus and the centrosome. A similar protein in mouse plays a role in both interkinetic nuclear migration, which is a characteristic pattern of nuclear movement in neural progenitors, and in neural progenitor self-renewal. Mutations in this gene are predicted to result in neurogenic defects.

Cep120 and Taccs regulated the integrity of microtubules coupling the centrosome and the nucleus. Cep120 interacted with Taccs and regulated the localization of Tacc3 to the centrosome. Both Cep120 and Taccs were essential for maintaining the neural progenitor pool during mouse neocortical development.