The X-Linked Intellectual Disability Protein PHF6 Associates with the PAF1 Complex and Regulates Neuronal Migration in the Mammalian Brain

Intellectual disability is a prevalent disorder that remains incurable. Mutations of the X-linked protein PHF6 cause the intellectual disability disorder Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome (BFLS). However, the biological role of PHF6 relevant to BFLS pathogenesis has remained unknown. We report that knockdown of PHF6 profoundly impairs neuronal migration in the mouse cerebral cortex in vivo, leading to the formation of white matter heterotopias displaying neuronal hyperexcitability. We find that PHF6 physically associates with the PAF1 transcription elongation complex, and inhibition of PAF1 phenocopies the PHF6 knockdown-induced migration phenotype in vivo. We also identify Neuroglycan C/Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 5 (NGC/CSPG5), a potential schizophrenia susceptibility gene, as a critical downstream target of PHF6 in the control of neuronal migration. These findings define PHF6, PAF1, and NGC/CSPG5 as components of a cell-intrinsic transcriptional pathway that orchestrates neuronal migration in the brain, with important implications for the pathogenesis of developmental disorders of cognition. •The intellectual disability protein PHF6 drives neuronal migration in the brain•PHF6 forms a complex with the PAF1 transcription elongation complex•NGC/CSPG5, a potential schizophrenia gene, mediates PHF6-dependent neuron migration•Inhibition of PHF6 causes white matter heterotopias, which harbor ectopic activity Zhang et al. uncover a function for the X-linked intellectual disability protein PHF6 in neuronal migration in the brain. PHF6 interacts with proteins that regulate transcription elongation and hence promotes neuronal migration. PHF6 inhibition triggers formation of white matter heterotopias.