Regulation of flagellar length in Chlamydomonas

Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2008 Dec;19(6):494-501. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.07.005. Epub 2008 Jul 25.

Abstract

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has two apically localized flagella that are maintained at an equal and appropriate length. Assembly and maintenance of flagella requires a microtubule-based transport system known as intraflagellar transport (IFT). During IFT, proteins destined for incorporation into or removal from a flagellum are carried along doublet microtubules via IFT particles. Regulation of IFT activity therefore is pivotal in determining the length of a flagellum. Reviewed is our current understanding of the role of IFT and signal transduction pathways in the regulation of flagellar length.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / cytology*
  • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / genetics
  • Flagella / ultrastructure*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins