Dual and opposing roles for the kinesin-2 motor, KIF17, in Hedgehog-dependent cerebellar development

Sci Adv. 2024 Apr 26;10(17):eade1650. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ade1650. Epub 2024 Apr 26.

Abstract

While the kinesin-2 motors KIF3A and KIF3B have essential roles in ciliogenesis and Hedgehog (HH) signal transduction, potential role(s) for another kinesin-2 motor, KIF17, in HH signaling have yet to be explored. Here, we investigated the contribution of KIF17 to HH-dependent cerebellar development, where Kif17 is expressed in both HH-producing Purkinje cells and HH-responding cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (CGNPs). Germline Kif17 deletion in mice results in cerebellar hypoplasia due to reduced CGNP proliferation, a consequence of decreased HH pathway activity mediated through decreased Sonic HH (SHH) protein. Notably, Purkinje cell-specific Kif17 deletion partially phenocopies Kif17 germline mutants. Unexpectedly, CGNP-specific Kif17 deletion results in the opposite phenotype-increased CGNP proliferation and HH target gene expression due to altered GLI transcription factor processing. Together, these data identify KIF17 as a key regulator of HH-dependent cerebellar development, with dual and opposing roles in HH-producing Purkinje cells and HH-responding CGNPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cerebellum* / abnormalities*
  • Cerebellum* / growth & development
  • Cerebellum* / metabolism
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Hedgehog Proteins* / genetics
  • Hedgehog Proteins* / metabolism
  • Kinesins* / genetics
  • Kinesins* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nervous System Malformations*
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Purkinje Cells* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 / genetics
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Kinesins
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • KIF17 protein, mouse
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1

Supplementary concepts

  • Cerebellar Hypoplasia