Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2007
Publication Title
Molecular Biology of the Cell
Abstract
Cilia and basal bodies are essential organelles for a broad spectrum of functions, including the development of left-right asymmetry, kidney function, cerebrospinal fluid transport, generation of photoreceptor outer segments, and hedgehog signaling. Zebrafish fleer (flr) mutants exhibit kidney cysts, randomized left-right asymmetry, hydrocephalus, and rod outer segment defects, suggesting a pleiotropic defect in ciliogenesis. Positional cloning flr identified a tetratricopeptide repeat protein homologous to the Caenorhabditis elegans protein DYF1 that was highly expressed in ciliated cells, flr pronephric cilia were shortened and showed a reduced beat amplitude, and olfactory cilia were absent in mutants, flr cilia exhibited ultrastructural defects in microtubule B-tubules, similar to axonemes that lack tubulin posttranslational modifications (polyglutamylation or polyglycylation). flr cilia showed a dramatic reduction in cilia polyglutamylated tubulin, indicating that flr encodes a novel modulator of tubulin polyglutamylation. We also found that the C. elegans flr homologue, dyf-1, is also required for tubulin polyglutamylation in sensory neuron cilia. Knockdown of zebrafish Ttl16, a tubulin polyglutamylase, specifically eliminated tubulin polyglutamylation and cilia formation in olfactory placodes, similar to flr mutants. These results are the first in vivo evidence that tubulin polyglutamylation is required for vertebrate cilia motility and structure, and, when compromised, results in failed ciliogenesis.
Volume
18
Issue
11
First Page
4353
Last Page
4364
DOI
10.1091/mbc.E07-06-0537
ISSN
10591524
Rights
© 2007 by The American Society for Cell Biology.
Recommended Citation
Pathak, Narendra; Obara, Tomoko; Mangos, Steve; Liu, Yan; and Drummond, Iain A., "The Zebrafish fleer Gene Encodes an Essential Regulator of Cilia Tubulin Polyglutamylation" (2007). Neuroscience: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/nsc_facpubs/38
Comments
Archived as published. Open access article.