Nek8445, a protein kinase required for microtubule regulation and cytokinesis in Giardia lamblia.

ABSTRACT: Giardia has 198 Nek kinases whereas humans have only 11. Giardia has a complex microtubule cytoskeleton that includes eight flagella and several unique microtubule arrays that are utilized for parasite attachment and facilitation of rapid mitosis and cytokinesis. The need to regulate these structures may explain the parallel expansion of the number of Nek family kinases. Here we use live and fixed cell imaging to uncover the role of Nek8445 in regulating Giardia cell division. We demonstrate that Nek8445 localization is cell cycle regulated and this kinase has a role in regulating overall microtubule organization. Nek8445 depletion results in short flagella, aberrant ventral disk organization, loss of the funis, defective axoneme exit, and altered cell shape. The axone

SUBMITTER: Hennessey KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7521801 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature