TitleIFT88 maintains sensory function by localising signalling proteins along cilia.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2024
AuthorsWerner S, Okenve-Ramos P, Hehlert P, Zitouni S, Priya P, Mendonça S, Sporbert A, Spalthoff C, Göpfert MC, Jana SChandra, Bettencourt-Dias M
JournalLife Sci Alliance
Volume7
Issue5
Date Published2024 May
ISSN2575-1077
KeywordsAnimals, Cilia, Drosophila, Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila Proteins, Hearing
Abstract

Ciliary defects cause several ciliopathies, some of which have late onset, suggesting cilia are actively maintained. Still, we have a poor understanding of the mechanisms underlying their maintenance. Here, we show r IFT88 (IFT88/nompB) continues to move along fully formed sensory cilia. We further identify Inactive, a TRPV channel subunit involved in hearing and negative-gravitaxis behaviour, and a yet uncharacterised Guanylyl Cyclase 2d (Gucy2d/CG34357) as IFT88 cargoes. We also show IFT88 binding to the cyclase´s intracellular part, which is evolutionarily conserved and mutated in several degenerative retinal diseases, is important for the ciliary localisation of Gucy2d. Finally, acute knockdown of both IFT88 and Gucy2d in ciliated neurons of adult flies caused defects in the maintenance of cilium function, impairing hearing and negative-gravitaxis behaviour, but did not significantly affect ciliary ultrastructure. We conclude that the sensory ciliary function underlying hearing in the adult fly requires an active maintenance program which involves IFT88 and at least two of its signalling transmembrane cargoes, Gucy2d and Inactive.

DOI10.26508/lsa.202302289
Alternate JournalLife Sci Alliance
PubMed ID38373798
PubMed Central IDPMC10876440