The PCP effector Fuzzy controls cilial assembly and signaling by recruiting Rab8 and Dishevelled to the primary cilium

Mol Biol Cell. 2013 Mar;24(5):555-65. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E12-06-0437. Epub 2013 Jan 9.

Abstract

The planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway controls multiple cellular processes during vertebrate development. Recently the PCP pathway was implicated in ciliogenesis and in ciliary function. The primary cilium is an apically projecting solitary organelle that is generated via polarized intracellular trafficking. Because it acts as a signaling nexus, defects in ciliogenesis or cilial function cause multiple congenital anomalies in vertebrates. Loss of the PCP effector Fuzzy affects PCP signaling and formation of primary cilia; however, the mechanisms underlying these processes are largely unknown. Here we report that Fuzzy localizes to the basal body and ciliary axoneme and is essential for ciliogenesis by delivering Rab8 to the basal body and primary cilium. Fuzzy appears to control subcellular localization of the core PCP protein Dishevelled, recruiting it to Rab8-positive vesicles and to the basal body and cilium. We show that loss of Fuzzy results in inhibition of PCP signaling and hyperactivation of the canonical WNT pathway. We propose a mechanism by which Fuzzy participates in ciliogenesis and affects both canonical WNT and PCP signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Axoneme / metabolism
  • Cell Polarity / genetics
  • Cell Polarity / physiology
  • Cilia / genetics*
  • Cilia / physiology
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Fuz protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Rab8 protein, mouse
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins