scholarly journals Intraflagellar transport—the “new motility” 20 years later

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 751-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith G. Kozminski

Intraflagellar transport is the rapid, bidirectional movement of protein complexes along the length of most eukaryotic cilia and flagella. Discovery of this intracellular process in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii 20 years ago led to a rapid discovery of cellular mechanisms that underlie a large number of human ciliopathies. Described herein are the events that led to this discovery.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloïse Bertiaux ◽  
Adeline Mallet ◽  
Cécile Fort ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Serge Bonnefoy ◽  
...  

SummaryIntraflagellar transport (IFT) is the rapid bidirectional movement of large protein complexes driven by kinesin and dynein motors along microtubule doublets of cilia and flagella. Here we used a combination of high-resolution electron and light microscopy to investigate how and where these IFT trains move within the flagellum of the protist Trypanosoma brucei. Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) analysis of trypanosomes showed that trains are found almost exclusively along two sets of doublets (3-4 and 7-8) and distribute in two categories according to their length. High-resolution live imaging of cells expressing mNeonGreen::IFT81 or GFP::IFT52 revealed for the first time IFT trafficking on two parallel lines within the flagellum. Anterograde and retrograde IFT occur on each of these lines. At the distal end, a large individual anterograde IFT train is converted in several smaller retrograde trains in the space of 3-4 seconds while remaining on the same side of the axoneme.


eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Huet ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Sylvie Perrot ◽  
Philippe Bastin

The construction of cilia and flagella depends on intraflagellar transport (IFT), the bidirectional movement of two protein complexes (IFT-A and IFT-B) driven by specific kinesin and dynein motors. IFT-B and kinesin are associated to anterograde transport whereas IFT-A and dynein participate to retrograde transport. Surprisingly, the small GTPase IFT27, a member of the IFT-B complex, turns out to be essential for retrograde cargo transport in Trypanosoma brucei. We reveal that this is due to failure to import both the IFT-A complex and the IFT dynein into the flagellar compartment. To get further molecular insight about the role of IFT27, GDP- or GTP-locked versions were expressed in presence or absence of endogenous IFT27. The GDP-locked version is unable to enter the flagellum and to interact with other IFT-B proteins and its sole expression prevents flagellum formation. These findings demonstrate that a GTPase-competent IFT27 is required for association to the IFT complex and that IFT27 plays a role in the cargo loading of the retrograde transport machinery.


2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 929-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Absalon ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Linda Kohl ◽  
Géraldine Toutirais ◽  
Gwénola Doré ◽  
...  

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is the bidirectional movement of protein complexes required for cilia and flagella formation. We investigated IFT by analyzing nine conventional IFT genes and five novel putative IFT genes (PIFT) in Trypanosoma brucei that maintain its existing flagellum while assembling a new flagellum. Immunostaining against IFT172 or expression of tagged IFT20 or green fluorescent protein GFP::IFT52 revealed the presence of IFT proteins along the axoneme and at the basal body and probasal body regions of both old and new flagella. IFT particles were detected by electron microscopy and exhibited a strict localization to axonemal microtubules 3–4 and 7–8, suggesting the existence of specific IFT tracks. Rapid (>3 μm/s) bidirectional intraflagellar movement of GFP::IFT52 was observed in old and new flagella. RNA interference silencing demonstrated that all individual IFT and PIFT genes are essential for new flagellum construction but the old flagellum remained present. Inhibition of IFTB proteins completely blocked axoneme construction. Absence of IFTA proteins (IFT122 and IFT140) led to formation of short flagella filled with IFT172, indicative of defects in retrograde transport. Two PIFT proteins turned out to be required for retrograde transport and three for anterograde transport. Finally, flagellum membrane elongation continues despite the absence of axonemal microtubules in all IFT/PIFT mutant.


2018 ◽  
Vol 217 (12) ◽  
pp. 4284-4297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloïse Bertiaux ◽  
Adeline Mallet ◽  
Cécile Fort ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Serge Bonnefoy ◽  
...  

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is the rapid bidirectional movement of large protein complexes driven by kinesin and dynein motors along microtubule doublets of cilia and flagella. In this study, we used a combination of high-resolution electron and light microscopy to investigate how and where these IFT trains move within the flagellum of the protist Trypanosoma brucei. Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) analysis of trypanosomes showed that trains are found almost exclusively along two sets of doublets (3–4 and 7–8) and distribute in two categories according to their length. High-resolution live imaging of cells expressing mNeonGreen::IFT81 or GFP::IFT52 revealed for the first time IFT trafficking on two parallel lines within the flagellum. Anterograde and retrograde IFT occurs on each of these lines. At the distal end, a large individual anterograde IFT train is converted in several smaller retrograde trains in the space of 3–4 s while remaining on the same side of the axoneme.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (17) ◽  
pp. 2620-2633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Johanna Buisson ◽  
Sabrina Absalon ◽  
Alexandra Marie ◽  
Nadège Cayet ◽  
...  

Cilia and flagella are assembled by intraflagellar transport (IFT) of protein complexes that bring tubulin and other precursors to the incorporation site at their distal tip. Anterograde transport is driven by kinesin, whereas retrograde transport is ensured by a specific dynein. In the protist Trypanosoma brucei, two distinct genes encode fairly different dynein heavy chains (DHCs; ∼40% identity) termed DHC2.1 and DHC2.2, which form a heterodimer and are both essential for retrograde IFT. The stability of each heavy chain relies on the presence of a dynein light intermediate chain (DLI1; also known as XBX-1/D1bLIC). The presence of both heavy chains and of DLI1 at the base of the flagellum depends on the intermediate dynein chain DIC5 (FAP133/WDR34). In the IFT140RNAi mutant, an IFT-A protein essential for retrograde transport, the IFT dynein components are found at high concentration at the flagellar base but fail to penetrate the flagellar compartment. We propose a model by which the IFT dynein particle is assembled in the cytoplasm, reaches the base of the flagellum, and associates with the IFT machinery in a manner dependent on the IFT-A complex.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Huet ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Sylvie Perrot ◽  
Philippe Bastin

AbstractIntraflagellar transport (IFT), the movement of protein complexes responsible for the assembly of cilia and flagella, is remarkably well conserved from protists to humans. However, two IFT components (IFT25 and IFT27) are missing from multiple unrelated eukaryotic species. In mouse, IFT25 and IFT27 are not required for assembly of several cilia with the noticeable exception of the flagellum of spermatozoa. Here we show that the Trypanosoma brucei IFT25 protein is a proper component of the IFT-B complex and displays typical IFT trafficking. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, we reveal that IFT25 and IFT27 interact within the flagellum in live cells during the IFT transport process. IFT25-depleted cells construct tiny disorganised flagella that accumulate IFT-B proteins (with the exception of IFT27, the binding partner of IFT25) but not IFT-A proteins. This phenotype is comparable to the one following depletion of IFT27 and shows that IFT25/IFT27 constitute a specific module requested for proper IFT and flagellum construction in trypanosomes. We discuss the possible reasons why IFT25/IFT27 would be required for only some types of cilia.


2009 ◽  
Vol 187 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaia Pigino ◽  
Stefan Geimer ◽  
Salvatore Lanzavecchia ◽  
Eugenio Paccagnini ◽  
Francesca Cantele ◽  
...  

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is the bidirectional movement of multipolypeptide particles between the ciliary membrane and the axonemal microtubules, and is required for the assembly, maintenance, and sensory function of cilia and flagella. In this paper, we present the first high-resolution ultrastructural analysis of trains of flagellar IFT particles, using transmission electron microscopy and electron-tomographic analysis of sections from flat-embedded Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells. Using wild-type and mutant cells with defects in IFT, we identified two different types of IFT trains: long, narrow trains responsible for anterograde transport; and short, compact trains underlying retrograde IFT. Both types of trains have characteristic repeats and patterns that vary as one sections longitudinally through the trains of particles. The individual IFT particles are highly complex, bridged to each other and to the outer doublet microtubules, and are closely apposed to the inner surface of the flagellar membrane.


2007 ◽  
Vol 176 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuqing Hou ◽  
Hongmin Qin ◽  
John A. Follit ◽  
Gregory J. Pazour ◽  
Joel L. Rosenbaum ◽  
...  

Intraflagellar transport (IFT), which is the bidirectional movement of particles within flagella, is required for flagellar assembly. IFT particles are composed of ∼16 proteins, which are organized into complexes A and B. We have cloned Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and mouse IFT46, and show that IFT46 is a highly conserved complex B protein in both organisms. A C. reinhardtii insertional mutant null for IFT46 has short, paralyzed flagella lacking dynein arms and with central pair defects. The mutant has greatly reduced levels of most complex B proteins, indicating that IFT46 is necessary for complex B stability. A partial suppressor mutation restores flagellar length to the ift46 mutant. IFT46 is still absent, but levels of the other IFT particle proteins are largely restored, indicating that complex B is stabilized in the suppressed strain. Axonemal ultrastructure is restored, except that the outer arms are still missing, although outer arm subunits are present in the cytoplasm. Thus, IFT46 is specifically required for transporting outer arms into the flagellum.


Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 486
Author(s):  
Sílvia C. Rodrigues ◽  
Renato M. S. Cardoso ◽  
Filipe V. Duarte

The most famous role of mitochondria is to generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation, a metabolic pathway that involves a chain of four protein complexes (the electron transport chain, ETC) that generates a proton-motive force that in turn drives the ATP synthesis by the Complex V (ATP synthase). An impressive number of more than 1000 mitochondrial proteins have been discovered. Since mitochondrial proteins have a dual genetic origin, it is predicted that ~99% of these proteins are nuclear-encoded and are synthesized in the cytoplasmatic compartment, being further imported through mitochondrial membrane transporters. The lasting 1% of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the mitochondrial genome and synthesized by the mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome). As a result, an appropriate regulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis is absolutely required to achieve and maintain normal mitochondrial function. Regarding miRNAs in mitochondria, it is well-recognized nowadays that several cellular mechanisms involving mitochondria are regulated by many genetic players that originate from either nuclear- or mitochondrial-encoded small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs). Growing evidence collected from whole genome and transcriptome sequencing highlight the role of distinct members of this class, from short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to miRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Some of the mechanisms that have been shown to be modulated are the expression of mitochondrial proteins itself, as well as the more complex coordination of mitochondrial structure and dynamics with its function. We devote particular attention to the role of mitochondrial miRNAs and to their role in the modulation of several molecular processes that could ultimately contribute to tissue regeneration accomplishment.


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