Required for centrosome duplication and formation and function of the mitotic spindle. Essential for the development of the cerebral cortex. May regulate the production of neurons by controlling the orientation of the mitotic spindle during division of cortical neuronal progenitors of the proliferative ventricular zone of the brain. Orientation of the division plane perpendicular to the layers of the cortex gives rise to two proliferative neuronal progenitors whereas parallel orientation of the division plane yields one proliferative neuronal progenitor and a post-mitotic neuron. A premature shift towards a neuronal fate within the progenitor population may result in an overall reduction in the final number of neurons and an increase in the number of neurons in the deeper layers of the cortex. Self-associates. Interacts with CNTRL, LIS1, dynein, SLMAP and TCP1 (By similarity). Interacts with CENPF, dynactin, tubulin gamma, PAFAH1B1, PCM1 and PCNT. Interacts with ZNF365. Localizes to the interphase and S phase centrosome. During mitosis, partially associated with the mitotic spindle. Concentrates at the plus ends of microtubules coincident with kinetochores in metaphase and anaphase in a CENPF-dependent manner. Also localizes to the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. manner. Also localizes to the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. Expressed in the neuroepithelium throughout the developing brain, including the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Phosphorylated in mitosis. Phosphorylated in vitro by CDC2. Phosphorylation at Thr-246 is essential for the G2/M transition (By similarity). The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the nudE family.