The phosphorylation state of an aurora-like kinase marks the length of growing flagella in Chlamydomonas.

ABSTRACT: Flagella and cilia are structurally polarized organelles whose lengths are precisely defined, and alterations in length are related to several human disorders. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) and protein signaling molecules are implicated in specifying flagellar and ciliary length, but evidence has been lacking for a flagellum and cilium length sensor that could participate in active length control or establishment of structural polarity. Previously, we showed that the phosphorylation state of the aurora-like protein kinase CALK in Chlamydomonas is a marker of the absence of flagella. Here we show that CALK phosphorylation state is also a marker for flagellar length. CALK is phosphorylated in cells without flagella, and during flagellar assembly it becomes dephosphorylated. Dephosphorylatio

SUBMITTER: Luo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3075388 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature