An outer arm Dynein conformational switch is required for metachronal synchrony of motile cilia in planaria.

ABSTRACT: Motile cilia mediate the flow of mucus and other fluids across the surface of specialized epithelia in metazoans. Efficient clearance of peri-ciliary fluids depends on the precise coordination of ciliary beating to produce metachronal waves. The role of individual dynein motors and the mechanical feedback mechanisms required for this process are not well understood. Here we used the ciliated epithelium of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea to dissect the role of outer arm dynein motors in the metachronal synchrony of motile cilia. We demonstrate that animals that completely lack outer dynein arms display a significant decline in beat frequency and an inability of cilia to coordinate their oscillations and form metachronal waves. Furthermore, lack of a key mechanosensitive regulatory comp

SUBMITTER: Rompolas P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2965684 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature