Regulation of vesicle trafficking at the primary cilium

Abstract

Primary cilia are microtubule-based antenna-like organelles emanating from the surface of mostquiescent eukaryotic cells. The ciliary membrane is highly enriched in specific signalingreceptors and ion channels, which enable the primary cilium to play an important role in thecoordination of numerous different cellular and developmental signaling pathways. Regulatedtrafficking of ciliary membrane proteins to and from the ciliary compartment is crucial for thecorrect formation and signaling function of the primary cilium. Consequently, mutations in genescoding for components involved in the assembly or function of the primary cilium can lead todifferent disorders and diseases, collectively termed ciliopathies.This thesis is based on three original articles (Article I, II and IV) and a review (Article III)focusing on mechanisms involved in regulating membrane protein trafficking to and fromprimary cilia and how such trafficking affects signaling.In Article I we focus on components involved in the trafficking of proteins towards theciliary base. First, we take a bioinformatics approach and identify transport protein particlecomplex 8 (TRAPPC8) and components of the TRAPPII complex as novel ASPM, SPD-2,Hydin (ASH) domain containing proteins, and further suggest that the ASH domain mediatestheir centrosomal localization. Additionally, we find TRAPPC8 to be involved in ciliogenesis,possibly through its involvement in RABIN8 recruitment to the ciliary base.Our focus in Article II is on the mechanisms and specific proteins involved in the regulationof trafficking across the transition zone (TZ) barrier. We show that the kinesin-3 motor proteinKIF13B interacts with NPHP4 and localizes to the ciliary-centrosome axis in a NPHP4-dependent manner. Further, depletion of either NPHP4 or KIF13B disrupts the accumulation ofcaveolin 1 (CAV1) at a specific TZ membrane region. Disruption of the CAV1 microdomainfurther inhibits Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)-induced accumulation of Smoothened in the ciliarycompartment leading to reduced transcription of the downstream target gene, GLI1. Thecollective findings suggest that KIF13B and NPHP4 are required for the formation of a CAV1-enriched microdomain at the TZ membrane region necessary for the regulation of Shh signaling.Finally, in Article IV the focus is on a potential new regulator of trafficking away from theciliary compartment. We characterize the interaction between angiomotin isoform 2 (Ap80) andKIF13B and show that Ap80 localizes to the centrosome/cilia base in a KIF13B-independentmanner. Additionally, FLAG-Ap80 co-localize with CAV1 and the early endosomal markerRAB5 at vesicles around the ciliary base and throughout the cytosol. Further, we find thatdepletion of Ap80 results in elongated cilia and from the collective results we suggest that Ap80is involved in endocytosis at the ciliary base and thereby in regulating ciliary membranehomeostasis.Collectively, the results in this thesis provide novel insight into the mechanisms regulatingdifferent steps in ciliary membrane protein trafficking important for proper cilia formation andsignaling function. Future investigations will further elucidate these mechanisms and hopefullycontribute to development of therapeutic approaches to combat ciliopathies.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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