Intraflagellar Transport Particles Participate Directly in Cilium-Generated Signaling in Chlamydomonas

Qian Wang, Junmin Pan, William J. Snell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

121 Scopus citations

Abstract

Primary cilia are widely used for signal transduction during development and in homeostasis and are assembled and maintained by intraflagellar transport (IFT). Here, we have dissected the role of IFT in signaling within the flagella (structural and functional counterparts of cilia) of the biflagellated green alga Chlamydomonas. Using a conditional IFT mutant enables us to deplete the IFT machinery from intact, existing flagella. We identify a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (CrPKG) within flagella as the substrate of a protein tyrosine kinase activated by flagellar adhesion during fertilization. We demonstrate that flagellar adhesion stimulates association of CrPKG with a new flagellar compartment. Moreover, formation of the compartment requires IFT, and IFT particles themselves are part of the compartment. Our results lead to a model in which the IFT machinery is required not only for assembling cilia and flagella but also for organizing a signaling pathway within the organelles during cilium-generated signaling.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)549-562
Number of pages14
JournalCell
Volume125
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 5 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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