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Oral-facial-digital type I protein is required for primary cilia formation and left-right axis specification.

The oral-facial-digital type I (OFD1) syndrome (OMIM 311200) is a human developmental disorder; affected individuals have craniofacial and digital abnormalities and, in 15% of cases, polycystic kidney. The disease is inherited as an X-linked dominant male-lethal trait. Using a Cre-loxP system, we generated knockout animals lacking Ofd1 and reproduced the main features of the disease, albeit with increased severity, possibly owing to differences of X inactivation patterns between human and mouse. We found failure of left-right axis specification in mutant male embryos, and ultrastructural analysis showed a lack of cilia in the embryonic node. Formation of cilia was defective in cystic kidneys from heterozygous females, implicating ciliogenesis as a mechanism underlying cyst development. In addition, we found impaired patterning of the neural tube and altered expression of the 5' Hoxa and Hoxd genes in the limb buds of mice lacking Ofd1, suggesting that Ofd1 could have a role beyond primary cilium organization and assembly.

Animals↗

Cilia and centrosomes: a unifying pathogenic concept for cystic kidney disease?

Cystic kidney diseases are among the most frequent lethal genetic diseases. Positional cloning of novel cystic kidney disease genes revealed that their products (cystoproteins) are expressed in sensory organelles called primary cilia, in basal bodies or in centrosomes. Primary cilia link mechanosensory, visual, osmotic, gustatory and other stimuli to mechanisms of cell-cycle control and epithelial cell polarity. The ciliary expression of cystoproteins explains why many other organs might be also affected in patients with cystic kidney disease. Protein-protein interactions among cystoproteins, and their strong evolutionary conservation, provide a basis for a multidisciplinary approach to unravelling the novel signalling mechanisms that are involved in this disease group.

Centrosome↗

Cilia defects upon loss of WDR4 are linked to proteasomal hyperactivity and ubiquitin shortage.

The WD repeat-containing protein 4 (WDR4) has repeatedly been associated with primary microcephaly, a condition of impaired brain and skull growth. Often, faulty centrosomes cause microcephaly, yet aberrant cilia may also be involved. Here, we show using a combination of approaches in human fibroblasts, zebrafish embryos and patient-derived cells that WDR4 facilitates cilium formation. Molecularly, we associated WDR4 loss-of-function with increased protein synthesis and concomitant upregulation of proteasomal activity, while ubiquitin precursor pools are reduced. Inhibition of proteasomal activity as well as supplementation with free ubiquitin restored normal ciliogenesis. Proteasome inhibition ameliorated microcephaly phenotypes. Thus, we propose that WDR4 loss-of-function impairs head growth and neurogenesis via aberrant cilia formation, initially caused by disturbed protein and ubiquitin homeostasis.

Animals↗

Association between supraependymal nerve fibres and the ependymal cilia of the mammalian brain.

The ciliated ependymal cells that line the floor of the fourth ventricle in adult Wistar rats are overlaid by an immense network of supraependymal nerve fibres. This study presents morphological evidence of a characteristic association of supraependymal nerve fibres with the cilia of the ependymocytes of the ventricular surface. It is found that the supraependymal nerve fibres accumulate and/or terminate at the base of the clusters of ependymal cilia. These fibres are varicose in nature and consist of large-diameter fibres with numerous prominent varicosities and small-diameter fibres with less frequent and less prominent varicosities. The characteristic association of the supraependymal nerve fibres with the ciliated ependymocytes suggests that these nerve fibres may be involved in producing co-ordinated ciliary movements in the mammalian brain.

Animals↗

The differential distribution of acetylated and detyrosinated alpha-tubulin in the microtubular cytoskeleton and primary cilia of hyaline cartilage chondrocytes.

The primary cilium is a ubiquitous cytoplasmic organelle of unknown function. Ultrastructural evidence of primary cilia in chondrocytes, and their colocalisation with the Golgi apparatus, has led to speculation that these structures are functionally linked. To investigate the relationship between these organelles, we examined the molecular anatomy of the microtubular cytoskeleton in the chondrocytes of chick embryo sterna. Thick cryosections were immunolabelled with antibodies directed against acetylated alpha-tubulin (C3B9), detyrosinated alpha-tubulin (ID5) and total alpha-tubulin (TAT), and imaged at high magnification using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the ultrastructure of the chondrocyte primary cilium and its structural relationship to the Golgi apparatus. Detyrosinated and acetylated alpha-tubulins were concentrated in the centrioles, centrosome and microtubule organising centre adjacent to the nucleus, with total alpha-tubulin distributed throughout the cytoplasm. ID5 stained the primary cilium at an incidence of 1 per cell, its colocalisation with C3B9 identifying the primary cilium as one of the most stable features of the microtubular cytoskeleton. Primary cilia varied from 1 to 4 microm in length, and 3 patterns of projection into the extracellular matrix were identified; (1) full extension and matrix contact, with minor undulations along the length; (2) partial extension and matrix contact, with a range of bending deflections; (3) cilium reclined against the cell surface with minimal matrix contact. Ultrastructural studies identified direct connections between extracellular collagen fibres and the proteins which decorate ciliary microtubules, suggesting a matrix-cilium-Golgi continuum in hyaline chondrocytes. These results strengthen the hypothesis that the primary cilium acts as a 'cellular cybernetic probe' capable of transducing environmental information from the extracellular matrix, communicating this information to the centrosome. and regulating the exocytosis of Golgi-derived secretory vesicles.

Animals↗

Detection of proximal tubular motile cilia in a patient with renal sarcoidosis associated with hypercalcemia.

In a normal human kidney, almost every cell type gives rise to a solitary primary cilium, an apical hair like nonmotile organelle that recently was linked to the pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease. Motile cilia normally are not expressed by renal tubular cells in the mammalian kidney. Here, we report the unexpected detection of motile cilia arising from proximal tubular cells in a patient with sarcoidosis associated with hypercalcemia and renal impairment. The possible significance of this unusual finding is discussed.

Adult↗

Evidence for active role of cilia in sensory transduction.

Combined high-voltage electron-microscopic and electrophysiological studies strongly suggest that cilia play an active role in sensory transduction in the grasshopper proximal femoral chordotonal organ (FCO) a ciliated mechanoreceptor. The FCO of pro- and mesothoracic legs of Melanoplus bivittatus contains a group of several hundred chorodontal sensilla arranged in a near-parallel bundle and slung between the proximal femur and the knee joint. Both flexion and extension of the tibia stimulate the FCO, which appears to measure the femoro-tibial angle. The FCO's U-shaped response curve indicates that progressive flexion or extension from the resting joint angle of 90 degrees increases the response frequency of individual receptors and recruits additional units as well. Since the FCO is a purely tonic mechanoreceptor, it is possible to fix FCOs during maximum and minimum states of stimulation and electron-microscopically observed changes in the receptor's fine structure. The most conspicuous change is the production of a pronounced bend at the base of the sensory cilia in chordotonal sensilla of maximally stimulated femoral chordotonal organs.

Animals↗

Tomographic three-dimensional reconstruction of cilia ultrastructure from thick sections.

We have applied a computer-based tomographic technique to reconstruct the three-dimensional ultrastructure of newt lung cilia. Epon-embedded samples were cut into 0.25-micron-thick sections that were imaged at 1 MV with a high-voltage electron microscope. For the reconstruction shown, a tilt series of 53 micrographs was taken at tilt angles between -54 degrees and +50 degrees. The reconstruction was accomplished from these projections using a weighted back-projection algorithm. The 12-nm resolution of the reconstruction was sufficient to resolve the outer doublet and central pair microtubules, dynein arms, radial spokes, and central sheath structures. The reconstruction can be viewed from various angles and with appropriate parts cut away to reveal structural features of interest. The sense of depth in these views can be enhanced by stereo viewing of shaded surface images. From this reconstruction, we determined that newt lung cilia contain the more common triplet grouping of radial spokes.

Animals↗

Odorants selectively activate distinct G protein subtypes in olfactory cilia.

Chemoelectrical signal transduction in olfactory neurons appears to involve intracellular reaction cascades mediated by heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins. In this study attempts were made to identify the G protein subtype(s) in olfactory cilia that are activated by the primary (odorant) signal. Antibodies directed against the alpha subunits of distinct G protein subtypes interfered specifically with second messenger reponses elicited by defined subsets of odorants; odor-induced cAMP-formation was attenuated by Galphas antibodies, whereas Galphao antibodies blocked odor-induced inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) formation. Activation-dependent photolabeling of Galpha subunits with [alpha-32P]GTP azidoanilide followed by immunoprecipitation using subtype-specific antibodies enabled identification of particular individual G protein subtypes that were activated upon stimulation of isolated olfactory cilia by chemically distinct odorants. For example odorants that elicited a cAMP response resulted in labeling of a Galphas-like protein, whereas odorants that elicited an IP3 response led to the labeling of a Galphao-like protein. Since odorant-induced IP3 formation was also blocked by Gbeta antibodies, activation of olfactory phospholipase C might be mediated by betagamma subunits of a Go-like G protein. These results indicate that different subsets of odorants selectively trigger distinct reaction cascades and provide evidence for dual transduction pathways in olfactory signaling.

Acetates↗

Cilia-like structures and polycystin-1 in osteoblasts/osteocytes and associated abnormalities in skeletogenesis and Runx2 expression.

We examined the osteoblast/osteocyte expression and function of polycystin-1 (PC1), a transmembrane protein that is a component of the polycystin-2 (PC2)-ciliary mechano-sensor complex in renal epithelial cells. We found that MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts and MLO-Y4 osteocytes express transcripts for PC1, PC2, and the ciliary proteins Tg737 and Kif3a. Immunohistochemical analysis detected cilia-like structures in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic and MLO-Y4 osteocyte-like cell lines as well as primary osteocytes and osteoblasts from calvaria. Pkd1m1Bei mice have inactivating missense mutations of Pkd1 gene that encode PC1. Pkd1m1Bei homozygous mutant mice demonstrated delayed endochondral and intramembranous bone formation, whereas heterozygous Pkd1m1Bei mutant mice had osteopenia caused by reduced osteoblastic function. Heterozygous and homozygous Pkd1m1Bei mutant mice displayed a gene dose-dependent decrease in the expression of Runx2 and osteoblast-related genes. In addition, overexpression of constitutively active PC1 C-terminal constructs in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts resulted in an increase in Runx2 P1 promoter activity and endogenous Runx2 expression as well as an increase in osteoblast differentiation markers. Conversely, osteoblasts derived from Pkd1m1Bei homozygous mutant mice had significant reductions in endogenous Runx2 expression, osteoblastic markers, and differentiation capacity ex vivo. Co-expression of constitutively active PC1 C-terminal construct into Pkd1m1Bei homozygous osteoblasts was sufficient to normalize Runx2 P1 promoter activity. These findings are consistent with a possible functional role of cilia and PC1 in anabolic signaling in osteoblasts/osteocytes.

Animals↗

The ultrastructure of primary cilia in the endocrine and excretory duct cells of the pancreas of mice and rats.

A primary cilium was frequently observed in the endocrine alpha, beta and delta cells, as well as in the excretory duct cells of the pancreas of normal mice and rats. The characteristic components of the cilium including the basal body, axoneme (shaft), and terminal part were clearly recognizable. The basal body or distal centriole surrounded by Golgi vesicles was perpendicularly oriented to the proximal centriole, and a dense striated band was seen filling the gap between them. The microtubules of the basal body consisted of nine peripheral triplets exhibiting a 9 + 0 pattern, an appearance similar to that of the proximal centriole. Rootlets, basal feet and alar sheets associated with the basal body were occasionally seen. The axoneme usually consisted of a 9 + 0 pattern of microtubule doublets, but other irregular patterns of 7 + 2, 7 + 3, and 8 + 1 were also seen. The microtubules in the terminal part of the cilium became fewer in number and had no peculiar arrangement. The cilium of the endocrine cells always projected into the intercellular canaliculus and was covered by the ciliary sheath, and occasionally, double cilia were visualized in the vicinity of beta cells. In the excretory duct cells, the cilium showed similar features, but it was slightly longer and always projected into the dense secretory content of duct lumen. On the other hand, no primary cilium was ever observed in the acinar cells of mouse and rat pancreas. In conclusion, the present study describes the morphology of primary cilia and its associated components in the endocrine and excretory duct cells of the pancreas of mice and rats. The findings suggest that the primary cilium should be considered as a constant intracellular organelle though its function and significance remain speculative.

Animals↗

Cilia formation in the adult cat brain after pargyline treatment.

The brains of four adult cats treated with pargyline (a nonhydrazide monoaminoxidase inhibitor) were examined at both the light and electron microscopic levels. Formation of typical mature cilia with the 9 + 2 pattern was observed in neural cells in the following areas: habenula nuclei, interpeduncular nuclei, hippocampus, mammillary bodies, thalamus, and caudate nucleus. The most marked ciliation occurs in the habenula nuclei. In general, glial cells greatly predominate in the formation of cilia. It is not clear whether ciliation in the central nervous system is the direct result of pargyline or if it occurs indirectly as a result of inhibition of monoaminoxidase. These findings are compared with the serotonin effect on ciliation in the embryogenesis of lower forms. It is suggested that pharmacological stimulation of centriolar reproduction without subsequent mitosis may lead to ciliary formation.

Animals↗

Splayed Tetrahymena cilia. A system for analyzing sliding and axonemal spoke arrangements.

This study makes use of a procedure designed to illustrate, without serial section analysis, the three-dimensional changes in the ciliary axoneme produced by microtubule sliding, and to confirm essential features of the sliding microtubule hypothesis of ciliary movement. Cilia, isolated from Tetrahymena pyriformis by the dibucaine procedure, are attached to polylysine substratum, and treated with Triton X-100. Critical point drying maintains three-dimensional structure without embedding. The detergent removes the membrane and many axonemes unroll, always in an organized fashion so that doublets follow one another in sequence, according to the enantiomorphic form of the cilium. The central pair of microtubules fall to the side as a unit. The parallel doublet microtubules retain relative longitudinal positions in part by interdoublet or nexin links. Spoke organization and tip patterns are preserved in the opened axonemes. We generalize the work of Warner and Satir (Warner, F. D., and P. Satir, 1976. J. Cell Biol. 63:35-63) to show that spoke group arrangements are maintained for all doublets in straight regions, while systematic displacements occur in bent regions. The conclusion that local contraction of microtubles is absent in the axoneme is strengthened, and direct graphic demonstrations of sliding at the ciliary tip are shown. A morphogenetic numbering scheme is presented which results in a quantitative fit of the tip images to the images predicated by the equation for doublet sliding, and which makes possible new comparisons of structural parameters between axonemes and with cilia of other organisms.

Animals↗

Structural conformation of ciliary dynein arms and the generation of sliding forces in Tetrahymena cilia.

The sliding tubule model of ciliary motion requires that active sliding of microtubules occur by cyclic cross-bridging of the dynein arms. When isolated, demembranated Tetrahymena cilia are allowed to spontaneously disintegrate in the presence of ATP, the structural conformation of the dynein arms can be clearly resolved by negative contrast electron microscopy. The arms consist of three structural subunits that occur in two basic conformations with respect to the adjacent B subfiber. The inactive conformation occurs in the absence of ATP and is characterized by a uniform, 32 degrees base-directed polarity of the arms. Inactive arms are not attached to the B subfiber of adjacent doublets. The bridged conformation occurs strictly in the presence of ATP and is characterized by arms having the same polarity as inactive arms, but the terminal subunit of the arms has become attached to the B subfiber. In most instances the bridged conformation is accompanied by substantial tip-directed sliding displacement of the bridged doublets. Because the base-directed polarity of the bridged arms is opposite to the direction required for force generation in these cilia and because the bridges occur in the presence of ATP, it is suggested that the bridged conformation may represent the initial attachment phase of the dynein cross-bridge cycle. The force-generating phase of the cycle would then require a tip-directed deflection of the arm subunit attached to the B subfiber.

Animals↗

Properties of microtubule sliding disintegration in isolated Tetrahymena cilia.

Properties of the sliding disintegration response of demembranated tetrahymena cilia have been studied by measuring the spectrophotomeric response or turbidity of cilia suspensions at a wavelength of 350 nm relative to changes in the dynein substrate (MgATP(2-)) concentration. The maximum decrease in turbidity occurs in 20 muM ATP, and 90 percent of the decrease occurs in approximately 5.9 s. At lower ATP concentrations (1-20 muM), both the velocity and magnitude of the turbidity decreases are proportional to ATP concentration. The velocity data for 20 muM ATP permit construction of a reaction velocity curve suggesting that changes in turbidity are directly proportional to the extent and velocity of disintegration. At ATP concentrations more than 20 muM (50muM to 5mM), both velocity and magnitude of the turbidimetric response are reduced by approximately 50 percent. This apparent inhibition results in a biphasic response curve that may be related to activation of residual shear resistance or regulatory components at the higher ATP concentrations. The inhibitory effects of elevated ATP can be eliminated by mild trypsin proteolysis, whereupon the reaction goes to completion at any ATP concentration. The turbidimetric responses of the axoneme-substrate suspensions are consistent with the extent and type of axoneme disintegration revealed by electron microscope examination of the various suspensions, suggesting that the turbidimetric assay may prove to be a reliable means for assessing the state of axoneme integrity.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Rotation and twist of the central-pair microtubules in the cilia of Paramecium.

The orientation and configuration of the central-pair microtubules in cilia were studied by serial thin-section analysis of "instantaneously fixed" paramecia. Cilia were frozen in various positions in metachronal waves by such a fixation. The spatial sequence of these positions across the wave represents the temporal sequence of the positions during the active beat cycle of a cilium. Systematic shifts of central-pair orientation across the wave indicate that the central pair rotates 360 degrees counterclockwise (viewed from outside) with each ciliary beat cycle (C. K. Omoto, 1979, Thesis, University of Wisconsin, Madison; C. K. Omoto and C. Kung, 1979, Nature [Lond.] 279:532-534). This is true even for paramecia with different directions of effective stroke as in forward- or backward-swimming cells. The systematic shifts of central-pair orientation cannot be seen in Ni++-paralyzed cells or sluggish mutants which do not have metachronal waves. Both serial thin-section and thick-section high-voltage electron microscopy show that whenever a twist in the central pair is seen, it is always left-handed. This twist is consistent with the hypothesis that the central pair continuously rotates counterclockwise with the rotation originating at the base of the cilium. That the rotation of the central pair is most likely with respect to the peripheral tubules as well as the cell surface is discussed. These results are incorporated into a model in which the central-pair complex is a component in the regulation of the mechanism needed for three-dimensional ciliary movement.

Animals↗

Fine structure of the cilia of rotifers.

The fine structure of the coronal cilia of the rotifer Philodina citrina has been studied in detail. Specimens were fixed with OsO(4) and embedded in butyl-methyl methacrylate, Epon 812, or Vestopal and sectioned with a Porter-Blum microtome. The details of structure of the rootlets, basal bodies, basal plates, and free cilia are described. The general structure of the rotifer ciliary apparatus conforms well to that established for other species. One of the main observations is the difference in structure of the peripheral filaments in the opposing halves of a cross-section of the free cilium. Also, in longitudinal sections evidence is offered for the existence of a helical structure in the peripheral filaments.

Basal Bodies↗

Physiological control of molluscan gill cilia by 5-hydroxytryptamine.

An examination is made of the hypothesis that endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) serves as a local hormone regulating ciliary activity in the lamellibranch gill. These cilia are sensitive to exogenous 5-HT and respond to it by a prompt, sustained, and reversible rise in beat frequency; at the same time the carbohydrate metabolism is stimulated, as described elsewhere. Control gill contains small but definite amounts of endogenous 5-HT according to bioassay, fluorometry, and chromatography. The amount can be increased markedly by exposing the isolated gill to the precursor substance 5-hydroxytryptophan but not l-tryptophan. As the tissue level of 5-HT rises, the spontaneous beat frequency also rises. Both remain elevated for hours and perhaps for days. The gill of Mytilus edulis is richer than the gill of Modiolus demissus in both endogenous 5-HT and effective 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase activity. Modiolus gill lacks the 5-hydroxyindole oxidase by which Mytilus gill destroys 5-HT. What if any mechanism exists in Modiolus for degrading 5-HT is not known, but monoamine oxidase is not present. The 5-HT content of Mytilus and Modiolus gill cannot be modified by treatment with reserpine or alpha-methyl-dopa. Which cells of the gill synthesize and destroy 5-HT has not been established, but these observations support the concept that the physiological activity of lamellibranch gill cilia is controlled by a serotonergic mechanism.

Animals↗