An IFT-A protein is required to delimit functionally distinct zones in mechanosensory cilia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Conserved intraflagellar transport (IFT) particle proteins and IFT-associated motors are needed to assemble most eukaryotic cilia and flagella. Proteins in an IFT-A subcomplex are generally required for dynein-driven retrograde IFT, from the ciliary tip to the base. We describe novel structural and functional roles for IFT-A proteins in chordotonal organs, insect mechanosensory organs with cilia that are both sensory and motile.

Results

The reduced mechanoreceptor potential A (rempA) locus of Drosophila encodes the IFT-A component IFT140. Chordotonal cilia are shortened in rempA mutants and an IFT-B protein accumulates in the mutant cilia, consistent with a defect in retrograde IFT. A functional REMPA-YFP fusion protein concentrates at the site of the ciliary dila

SUBMITTER: Lee E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2615538 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature