Nuclear proteome reveals microtubule-associated protein regulating fate and disease.

Nuclear localization of MAP1B influences neural stem cell fate and is linked to neurodevelopmental disease, with 20% of cytoskeletal proteins found in the nucleus.

• Why it matters: Understanding how cytoskeletal signals are conveyed to the nucleus is crucial for deciphering brain development and disease mechanisms, addressing a significant knowledge gap.
• What they did: Profiling the nuclear and cytosolic proteomes of human and murine neural stem cells identified abundant cytoskeletal proteins like MAP1B, which shuttles to the nucleus and interacts with chromatin remodeling complexes.
• The result: Nuclear MAP1B promotes stem cell fate and its dysregulation leads to neuronal mispositioning and ectopia, providing insights into neurodevelopmental disorders and potential therapeutic targets.