Hominin-specific protein that promotes development and evolutionary expansion of the brain neocortex (  ). Able to promote amplification of basal progenitors in the subventricular zone, producing more neurons during fetal corticogenesis, thereby playing a key role in neocortex expansion . Promotes the proliferation of basal progenitors by inhibiting the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP): delays the opening of the mPTP via interaction with ADP:ATP translocase, thereby increasing mitochondrial Ca(2+) concentration and inducing glutamine catabolism, which is required for basal progenitor proliferation . Does not possess GTPase activator activity: the absence of GTPase activator activity is required to promote amplification of basal progenitors during neocortex development (, ).
Subcellular locations: Mitochondrion matrix