# McIdas localizes to centrioles and controls centriole numbers through PLK4-dependent phosphorylation

**Authors:** Marina Arbi, Margarita Skamnelou, Lydia Koufoudaki, Vasiliki Bakali, Spyridoula Bournaka, Sihem Zitouni, Stavroula Tsaridou, Ozge Karayel, Catherine G Vasilopoulou, Aikaterini C Tsika, Nikolaos N Giakoumakis, Ourania Preza, Georgios A Spyroulias, Matthias Mann, Mónica Bettencourt-Dias, Stavros Taraviras, Zoi Lygerou

PMC · DOI: 10.1038/s44319-026-00697-5 · EMBO Reports · 2026-02-05

## TL;DR

This study shows that McIdas helps control centriole numbers by localizing to centrioles and interacting with PLK4, which is important for cell division and preventing diseases.

## Contribution

McIdas is a novel PLK4 substrate that regulates centriole duplication through centrosomal localization and phosphorylation.

## Key findings

- McIdas localizes to centrioles via a nuclear export signal in its coiled-coil domain.
- McIdas overexpression causes centriole overduplication, while its depletion disrupts daughter centriole biogenesis.
- McIdas is phosphorylated by PLK4, which is essential for its role in centriole duplication.

## Abstract

The centriole duplication cycle must be tightly controlled and coordinated with the chromosome cycle. Aberrations in centriole biogenesis can cause developmental disorders, ciliopathies and cancer, yet the molecular determinants controlling centriole numbers and the link between the two cycles remain poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that McIdas, previously implicated in cell cycle regulation and multiciliogenesis, plays a critical role in maintaining proper centriole numbers. McIdas localizes to centrioles, where it exhibits dynamic localization throughout the cell cycle, dependent upon a nuclear export signal (NES) in its coiled-coil domain. Overexpression of McIdas induces centriole overduplication, whereas its depletion perturbs daughter centriole biogenesis and SAS6 recruitment. An NES mutant of McIdas that fails to localize to centrioles does not induce centriole amplification. Moreover, McIdas depletion reduces PLK4-induced centriole amplification. McIdas interacts with and is phosphorylated by PLK4, which is critical for its role in centriole number control. Overall, our results demonstrate that in addition to its known nuclear localization, McIdas also localizes to centrioles, affecting centriole duplication. This novel, direct role of McIdas in centriole duplication connects its functions in cell cycle regulation and multiciliogenesis.

McIdas maintains proper centriole numbers. It localizes to centrosomes through a nuclear export signal, and its centrosomal recruitment supports centriole duplication. McIdas also interacts with and is a novel substrate of PLK4.

McIdas localizes to centrosomes and exhibits a differential localization pattern during the cell cycle. Its localization depends on a nuclear export signal (NES) in its coiled-coil domain.Overexpression of McIdas induces centriole overduplication, whereas its depletion perturbs daughter centriole biogenesis and SAS6 recruitment. The McIdas NES supports its function in centriole biogenesis.McIdas interacts with and is phosphorylated by PLK4, which is essential for daughter centriole biogenesis.

McIdas localizes to centrosomes and exhibits a differential localization pattern during the cell cycle. Its localization depends on a nuclear export signal (NES) in its coiled-coil domain.

Overexpression of McIdas induces centriole overduplication, whereas its depletion perturbs daughter centriole biogenesis and SAS6 recruitment. The McIdas NES supports its function in centriole biogenesis.

McIdas interacts with and is phosphorylated by PLK4, which is essential for daughter centriole biogenesis.

McIdas maintains proper centriole numbers. It localizes to centrosomes through a nuclear export signal, and its centrosomal recruitment supports centriole duplication. McIdas also interacts with and is a novel substrate of PLK4.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** MCIDAS (multiciliate differentiation and DNA synthesis associated cell cycle protein) [NCBI Gene 345643], PLK4 (polo like kinase 4) [NCBI Gene 10733], SASS6 (SAS-6 centriolar assembly protein) [NCBI Gene 163786]
- **Diseases:** cancer (MONDO:0004992), ciliopathies (MONDO:0005308)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** PLK4 (polo like kinase 4) [NCBI Gene 10733] {aka MCCRP2, SAK, STK18}, MCIDAS (multiciliate differentiation and DNA synthesis associated cell cycle protein) [NCBI Gene 345643] {aka CILD42, IDAS, MCI, MCIN}, SASS6 (SAS-6 centriolar assembly protein) [NCBI Gene 163786] {aka MCPH14, SAS-6, SAS6}
- **Diseases:** cancer (MESH:D009369), developmental disorders (MESH:D002658), ciliopathies (MESH:D000072661)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13022133/full.md

## Figures

18 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13022133/full.md

## References

5 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13022133/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13022133