Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Molecular Biology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Series

Dartmouth College

2011

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology

The Pcdp1 Complex Coordinates The Activity Of Dynein Isoforms To Produce Wild-Type Ciliary Motility, Christen G. Dipetrillo, Elizabeth F. Smith Sep 2011

The Pcdp1 Complex Coordinates The Activity Of Dynein Isoforms To Produce Wild-Type Ciliary Motility, Christen G. Dipetrillo, Elizabeth F. Smith

Dartmouth Scholarship

Generating the complex waveforms characteristic of beating cilia requires the coordinated activity of multiple dynein isoforms anchored to the axoneme. We previously identified a complex associated with the C1d projection of the central apparatus that includes primary ciliary dyskinesia protein 1 (Pcdp1). Reduced expression of complex members results in severe motility defects, indicating that C1d is essential for wild-type ciliary beating. To define a mechanism for Pcdp1/C1d regulation of motility, we took a functional and structural approach combined with mutants lacking C1d and distinct subsets of dynein arms. Unlike mutants completely lacking the central apparatus, dynein-driven microtubule sliding velocities are …


The Csc Is Required For Complete Radial Spoke Assembly And Wild-Type Ciliary Motility, Erin E. Dymek, Thomas Heuser, Daniela Nicastro, Elizabeth F. Smith May 2011

The Csc Is Required For Complete Radial Spoke Assembly And Wild-Type Ciliary Motility, Erin E. Dymek, Thomas Heuser, Daniela Nicastro, Elizabeth F. Smith

Dartmouth Scholarship

The ubiquitous calcium binding protein, calmodulin (CaM), plays a major role in regulating the motility of all eukaryotic cilia and flagella. We previously identified a CaM and Spoke associated Complex (CSC) and provided evidence that this complex mediates regulatory signals between the radial spokes and dynein arms. We have now used an artificial microRNA (amiRNA) approach to reduce expression of two CSC subunits in Chlamydomonas. For all amiRNA mutants, the entire CSC is lacking or severely reduced in flagella. Structural studies of mutant axonemes revealed that assembly of radial spoke 2 is defective. Furthermore, analysis of both flagellar beating and …