Pericentrin forms a complex with intraflagellar transport proteins and polycystin-2 and is required for primary cilia assembly.
Primary cilia are nonmotile microtubule structures that assemble from basal bodies by a process called intraflagellar transport (IFT) and are associated with several human diseases. Here, we show that the centrosome protein pericentrin (Pcnt) colocalizes with IFT proteins to the base of primary and motile cilia. Immunogold electron microscopy demonstrates that Pcnt is on or near basal bodies at the base of cilia. Pcnt depletion by RNA interference disrupts basal body localization of IFT proteins and the cation channel polycystin-2 (PC2), and inhibits primary cilia assembly in human epithelial cells. Conversely, silencing of IFT20 mislocalizes Pcnt from basal bodies and inhibits primary cilia assembly. Pcnt is found in spermatocyte IFT fractions, and IFT proteins are found in isolated centrosome fractions. Pcnt antibodies coimmunoprecipitate IFT proteins and PC2 from several cell lines and tissues. We conclude that Pcnt, IFTs, and PC2 form a complex in vertebrate cells that is required for assembly of primary cilia and possibly motile cilia and flagella.
Jurczyk
Agata
A
Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street, Biotech II, Suite 210, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Gromley
Adam
A
Redick
Sambra
S
San Agustin
Jovenal
J
Witman
George
G
Pazour
Gregory J
GJ
Peters
Dorien J M
DJ
Doxsey
Stephen
S
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D034622:RNA Interference; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050396:TRPP Cation Channels
D000941:Antigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D050396:TRPP Cation Channels; C487991:IFT20 protein, human; C086178:pericentrin