ARHGAP11A Maintains Cortical Progenitor Identity Through RHOA–ROCK Signalling During Human Brain Development

Mammalian brain development involves coordinated progenitor amplification, migration, and differentiation. Apical progenitors (APs) establish the ventricular zone (VZ) and are key determinants of brain size and complexity. Rho-family guanosine triphosphatases (Rho GTPases) regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and AP behaviour, but how specific Rho GTPase-activating proteins (Rho GAPs) influence progenitor identity and VZ architecture remains unclear. Using human forebrain organoids, we investigated the Rho GAP ARHGAP11A in human corticogenesis. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ARHGAP11A knockout revealed its essential role in maintaining VZ integrity. Loss of ARHGAP11A impaired neuroepithelial organisation and randomised mitotic cleavage plane orientation via the RHOA–ROCK–actin axis. This led to premature AP delamination, AP depletion, and reduced cell density and glial numbers. Pharmacological inhibition of RHOA or ROCK rescued these defects, highlighting ARHGAP11A’s role in cytoskeletal remodelling to maintain cortical progenitors. Our findings establish ARHGAP11A as a critical regulator of AP identity and VZ integrity, with broad implications for human corticogenesis.

• Type: Other
• Archiver: European Genome-Phenome Archive (EGA)