PARD3 dysfunction in conjunction with dynamic HIPPO signaling drives cortical enlargement with massive heterotopia

Proper organization and orderly mitosis of radial glial progenitors (RGPs) drive the formation of a laminated mammalian cortex in the correct size. However, the molecular underpinnings of the intricate process remain largely unclear. Here we show that RGP behavior and cortical development are controlled by temporally distinct actions of partitioning-defective 3 (PARD3) in concert with dynamic HIPPO signaling. RGPs lacking PARD3 exhibit developmental stage-dependent abnormal switches in division mode, resulting in an initial overproduction of RGPs located largely outside the ventricular zone at the expense of deep-layer neurons. Ectopically localized RGPs subsequently undergo accelerated and excessive neurogenesis, leading to the formation of an enlarged cortex with massive heterotopia and increased seizure susceptibility. Simultaneous removal of HIPPO pathway effectors Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) suppresses cortical enlargement and heterotopia formation. These results define a dynamic regulatory program of mammalian cortical development and highlight a progenitor origin of megalencephaly with ribbon heterotopia and epilepsy.