scholarly journals Basal Body Components Exhibit Differential Protein Dynamics during Nascent Basal Body Assembly

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 904-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad G. Pearson ◽  
Thomas H. Giddings ◽  
Mark Winey

Basal bodies organize cilia that are responsible for both mechanical beating and sensation. Nascent basal body assembly follows a series of well characterized morphological events; however, the proteins and their assembly dynamics for new basal body formation and function are not well understood. High-resolution light and electron microscopy studies were performed in Tetrahymena thermophila to determine how proteins assemble into the structure. We identify unique dynamics at basal bodies for each of the four proteins analyzed (α-tubulin, Spag6, centrin, and Sas6a). α-Tubulin incorporates only during new basal body assembly, Spag6 continuously exchanges at basal bodies, and centrin and Sas6a exhibit both of these patterns. Centrin loads and exchanges at the basal body distal end and stably incorporates during new basal body assembly at the nascent site of assembly and the microtubule cylinder. Conversely, both dynamic and stable populations of Sas6a are found only at a single site, the cartwheel. The bimodal dynamics found for centrin and Sas6a reveal unique protein assembly mechanisms at basal bodies that may reflect novel functions for these important basal body and centriolar proteins.

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1865-1877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brady P. Culver ◽  
Janet B. Meehl ◽  
Thomas H. Giddings ◽  
Mark Winey

Cilia and flagella are structurally and functionally conserved organelles present in basal as well as higher eukaryotes. The assembly of cilia requires a microtubule based scaffold called a basal body. The ninefold symmetry characteristic of basal bodies and the structurally similar centriole is organized around a hub and spoke structure termed the cartwheel. To date, SAS-6 is one of the two clearly conserved components of the cartwheel. In some organisms, overexpression of SAS-6 causes the formation of supernumerary centrioles. We questioned whether the centriole assembly initiation capacity of SAS-6 is separate from or directly related to its structural role at the cartwheel. To address this question we used Tetrahymena thermophila, which expresses two SAS-6 homologues, TtSAS6a and TtSAS6b. Cells lacking either TtSAS6a or TtSAS6b are defective in new basal body assembly. TtSas6a localizes to all basal bodies equally, whereas TtSas6b is enriched at unciliated and assembling basal bodies. Interestingly, overexpression of TtSAS6b but not TtSAS6a, led to the assembly of clusters of new basal bodies in abnormal locations. Our data suggest a model where TtSAS6a and TtSAS6b have diverged such that TtSAS6a acts as a structural component of basal bodies, whereas TtSAS6b influences the location of new basal body assembly.


1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 693-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Uchida ◽  
T Endo

We report here the ultrastructural localization of S-100b protein-like immunoreactivity in the centriole, cilia, and basal body. Duodenum and trachea of guinea pigs and rats were fixed and immunostained by the protein A-gold method. All centrioles, cilia, and basal bodies observed showed clear S-100b protein-like immunoreactivity. Specific colloidal gold particles were located over the microtubules in these cell organelles. However, other microtubules scattered throughout the cytoplasm were devoid of immunoreactivity. Although the functional significance of S-100b protein-like immunoreactivity in the centriole, cilia, and basal bodies remains to be elucidated, the present results introduce new perspectives into the investigation of localization and function of S-100 proteins.


mSphere ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Westley Heydeck ◽  
Alexander J. Stemm-Wolf ◽  
Janin Knop ◽  
Christina C. Poh ◽  
Mark Winey

ABSTRACT Basal bodies and centrioles are structurally similar and, when rendered dysfunctional as a result of improper assembly or maintenance, are associated with human diseases. Centrins are conserved and abundant components of both structures whose basal body and centriolar functions remain incompletely understood. Despite the extensive study of centrins in Tetrahymena thermophila, little is known about how centrin-binding proteins contribute to centrin’s roles in basal body assembly, stability, and orientation. The sole previous study of the large centrin-binding protein family in Tetrahymena revealed a role for Sfr13 in the stabilization and separation of basal bodies. In this study, we found that Sfr1 localizes to all Tetrahymena basal bodies and complete genetic deletion of SFR1 leads to overproduction of basal bodies. The uncovered inhibitory role of Sfr1 in basal body production suggests that centrin-binding proteins, as well as centrins, may influence basal body number both positively and negatively. Basal bodies are essential microtubule-based structures that template, anchor, and orient cilia at the cell surface. Cilia act primarily in the generation of directional fluid flow and sensory reception, both of which are utilized for a broad spectrum of cellular processes. Although basal bodies contribute to vital cell functions, the molecular contributors of their assembly and maintenance are poorly understood. Previous studies of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila revealed important roles for two centrin family members in basal body assembly, separation of new basal bodies, and stability. Here, we characterize the basal body function of a centrin-binding protein, Sfr1, in Tetrahymena. Sfr1 is part of a large family of 13 proteins in Tetrahymena that contain Sfi1 repeats (SFRs), a motif originally identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sfi1 that binds centrin. Sfr1 is the only SFR protein in Tetrahymena that localizes to all cortical row and oral apparatus basal bodies. In addition, Sfr1 resides predominantly at the microtubule scaffold from the proximal cartwheel to the distal transition zone. Complete genomic knockout of SFR1 (sfr1Δ) causes a significant increase in both cortical row basal body density and the number of cortical rows, contributing to an overall overproduction of basal bodies. Reintroduction of Sfr1 into sfr1Δ mutant cells leads to a marked reduction of cortical row basal body density and the total number of cortical row basal bodies. Therefore, Sfr1 directly modulates cortical row basal body production. This study reveals an inhibitory role for Sfr1, and potentially centrins, in Tetrahymena basal body production. IMPORTANCE Basal bodies and centrioles are structurally similar and, when rendered dysfunctional as a result of improper assembly or maintenance, are associated with human diseases. Centrins are conserved and abundant components of both structures whose basal body and centriolar functions remain incompletely understood. Despite the extensive study of centrins in Tetrahymena thermophila, little is known about how centrin-binding proteins contribute to centrin’s roles in basal body assembly, stability, and orientation. The sole previous study of the large centrin-binding protein family in Tetrahymena revealed a role for Sfr13 in the stabilization and separation of basal bodies. In this study, we found that Sfr1 localizes to all Tetrahymena basal bodies and complete genetic deletion of SFR1 leads to overproduction of basal bodies. The uncovered inhibitory role of Sfr1 in basal body production suggests that centrin-binding proteins, as well as centrins, may influence basal body number both positively and negatively.


1971 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. W. Anderson ◽  
Robert M. Brenner

Basal body replication during estrogen-driven ciliogenesis in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) oviduct has been studied by stereomicroscopy, rotation photography, and serial section analysis. Two pathways for basal body production are described: acentriolar basal body formation (major pathway) where procentrioles are generated from a spherical aggregate of fibers; and centriolar basal body formation, where procentrioles are generated by the diplosomal centrioles. In both pathways, the first step in procentriole formation is the arrangement of a fibrous granule precursor into an annulus. A cartwheel structure, present within the lumen of the annulus, is composed of a central cylinder with a core, spoke components, and anchor filaments. Tubule formation consists of an initiation and a growth phase. The A tubule of each triplet set first forms within the wall material of the annulus in juxtaposition to a spoke of the cartwheel. After all nine A tubules are initiated, B and C tubules begin to form. The initiation of all three tubules occurs sequentially around the procentriole. Simultaneous with tubule initiation is a nonsequential growth of each tubule. The tubules lengthen and the procentriole is complete when it is about 200 mµ long. The procentriole increases in length and diameter during its maturation into a basal body. The addition of a basal foot, nine alar sheets, and a rootlet completes the maturation process. Fibrous granules are also closely associated with the formation of these basal body accessory structures.


2021 ◽  
pp. mbc.E20-11-0717
Author(s):  
Jaime V.K. Hibbard ◽  
Neftali Vazquez ◽  
Rohit Satija ◽  
John B. Wallingford

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is essential for construction and maintenance of cilia. IFT proteins concentrate at the basal body, where they are thought to assemble into trains and bind cargoes for transport. To study the mechanisms of IFT recruitment to this peri-basal body pool, we quantified protein dynamics of eight IFT proteins, as well as five other basal body localizing proteins, using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching in vertebrate multiciliated cells. We found that members of the IFT-A and IFT-B protein complexes show distinct turnover kinetics from other basal body components. Additionally, known IFT sub-complexes displayed shared dynamics, suggesting shared basal body recruitment and/or retention mechanisms. Finally, we evaluated the mechanisms of basal body recruitment by depolymerizing cytosolic MTs, which suggested that IFT proteins are recruited to basal bodies through a diffusion-to-capture mechanism. Our survey of IFT protein dynamics provides new insights into IFT recruitment to basal bodies, a crucial step in ciliogenesis and ciliary signaling.


1985 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 1903-1912 ◽  
Author(s):  
R L Wright ◽  
J Salisbury ◽  
J W Jarvik

We have isolated a nucleus-basal body complex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The complex is strongly immunoreactive to an antibody generated against a major protein constituent of isolated Tetraselmis striata flagellar roots (Salisbury, J. L., A. Baron, B. Surek, and M. Melkonian, J. Cell Biol., 99:962-970). Electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic analysis indicates that, like the Tetraselmis protein, the Chlamydomonas antigen consists of two acidic isoforms of approximately 20 kD. Indirect immunofluorescent staining of nucleus-basal body complexes reveals two major fibers in the connector region, one between each basal body and the nucleus. The nucleus is also strongly immunoreactive, with staining radiating around much of the nucleus from a region of greatest concentration at the connector pole. Calcium treatment causes shortening of the connector fibers and also movement of nuclear DNA towards the connector pole. Electron microscopic observation of negatively stained nucleus-basal body complexes reveals a cluster of approximately 6-nm filaments, suspected to represent the connector, between the basal bodies and nuclei. A mutant with a variable number of flagella, vfl-2-220, is defective with respect to the nucleus-basal body association. This observation encourages us to speculate that the nucleus-basal body union is important for accurate basal body localization within the cell and/or for accurate segregation of parental and daughter basal bodies at cell division. A physical association between nuclei and basal bodies or centrioles has been observed in a variety of algal, protozoan, and metazoan cells, although the nature of the association, in terms of both structure and function, has been obscure. We believe it likely that fibrous connectors homologous to those described here for Chlamydomonas are general features of centriole-bearing eucaryotic cells.


1976 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.K. Hepler

Blepharoplast formation and function has been investigated by light and electron microscopy in developing microspores of the water fern Marsilea vestita. When single-celled microspores are hydrated they undergo a series of 9 cell divisions producing 7 sterile cells plus 32 spermatids. The blepharoplast, a densely staining, spherical inclusion (0-5-1-0 mum in diameter) interpenetrated by numerous lightly stained channels, is a precursor organelle for the production of the 100–150 basal bodies of the motile sperm. During development it arises twice in the dividing spermatogenous cells; first in telophase of the second to last or 7th division, and again in telophase of the next to last or 8th division. The blepharoplast first forms on the distal side of the nucleus during telophase of the 7th division but soon degenerates as the cell enters prophase and metaphase of the 8th division. The blepharoplast first forms on the distal side of the nucleus during telophase of the 7th division but soon degenerates as the cell enters prophase and metaphase of the 8th division. During telophase of the 8th division the blepharoplast again arises in the cytoplasm near a small indentation of the nuclear envelope. The forming blepharoplast consists of a sphere of lightly stained flocculent material within which 2 plaques separated by 40–50 nm arise. Each plaque possesses 2 dense layers (20 nm) separated by a light layer (10 nm). During subsequent development the distal layer of each plaque becomes progressively more densely stained. Light-staining channels appear within the accumulating dense material a-d 2 hemispherical blepharoplasts emerge. The blepharoplasts become spherical through continued growth and finally separate from each other as they move to the spindle poles during prophase of the last or 9th division. The blepharoplast appears to act as a microtubule organizing centre during formation of the spindle apparatus in prophase of the 9th division. While it remains at the pole throughout mitosis it does not continue to serve as the focal point for the spindle tubules. During metaphase-anaphase of the 9th division the blepharoplast swells, and the channels at its surface begin transforming into procentrioles and finally basal bodies. The results support the contention that basal bodies in Marsilea arise de novo, since no preexisting template such as a centriolar pinwheel is observed and sine the intermediates which initially occur are structurally dissimilar from a procentriole.


1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 367-385
Author(s):  
R.K. Peck

The ultrastructure of the somatic cortex of the ciliate Pseudomicrothorax dubius is studied with emphasis on the epiplasm layer which lies immediately under the inner alveolar membrane and is continuous with the terminal plates of cortical basal bodies. In addition to a clearly demonstrable cytoskeletal role, the epiplasm appears to function as a comenting substance which integrates numerous cortical fibres and membranes. The kinetodesmal, postciliary and transverse fibre systems which originate at the proximal ends of basal bodies extend toward the cell surface and end at or in the epiplasm. Inner alveolar membranes and trichocyst membranes are attached to the epiplasm. Basal bodies are anchored into the epiplasm via their terminal plates. The epiplasm appears to be morphogenetically important as a matrix into which newly formed basal bodies insert. Electron-opaque arms occur at the terminal plate level of new basal bodies, and these arms fuse with the epiplasm when basal body insertion occurs. The position of trichocysts in the cortex is specified by the epiplasm. Evidence from numerous other ciliates tends to confirm both structural and morphogenetic roles of the epiplasm.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 2999-3012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen T. O'Toole ◽  
Thomas H. Giddings ◽  
J. Richard McIntosh ◽  
Susan K. Dutcher

Improved methods of specimen preparation and dual-axis electron tomography have been used to study the structure and organization of basal bodies in the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Novel structures have been found in both wild type and strains with mutations that affect specific tubulin isoforms. Previous studies have shown that strains lacking δ-tubulin fail to assemble the C-tubule of the basal body. Tomographic reconstructions of basal bodies from the δ-tubulin deletion mutant uni3-1 have confirmed that basal bodies contain mostly doublet microtubules. Our methods now show that the stellate fibers, which are present only in the transition zone of wild-type cells, repeat within the core of uni3-1 basal bodies. The distal striated fiber is incomplete in this mutant, rootlet microtubules can be misplaced, and multiflagellate cells have been observed. A suppressor of uni3-1, designated tua2-6, contains a mutation in α-tubulin. tua2-6; uni3-1 cells build both flagella, yet they retain defects in basal body structure and in rootlet microtubule positioning. These data suggest that the presence of specific tubulin isoforms in Chlamydomonas directly affects the assembly and function of both basal bodies and basal body-associated structures.


2012 ◽  
Vol 197 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Enjolras ◽  
Joëlle Thomas ◽  
Brigitte Chhin ◽  
Elisabeth Cortier ◽  
Jean-Luc Duteyrat ◽  
...  

Centriole-to–basal body conversion, a complex process essential for ciliogenesis, involves the progressive addition of specific proteins to centrioles. CHIBBY (CBY) is a coiled-coil domain protein first described as interacting with β-catenin and involved in Wg-Int (WNT) signaling. We found that, in Drosophila melanogaster, CBY was exclusively expressed in cells that require functional basal bodies, i.e., sensory neurons and male germ cells. CBY was associated with the basal body transition zone (TZ) in these two cell types. Inactivation of cby led to defects in sensory transduction and in spermatogenesis. Loss of CBY resulted in altered ciliary trafficking into neuronal cilia, irregular deposition of proteins on spermatocyte basal bodies, and, consequently, distorted axonemal assembly. Importantly, cby1/1 flies did not show Wingless signaling defects. Hence, CBY is essential for normal basal body structure and function in Drosophila, potentially through effects on the TZ. The function of CBY in WNT signaling in vertebrates has either been acquired during vertebrate evolution or lost in Drosophila.


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