An incredible decade for the primary cilium: a look at a once-forgotten organelle.
Since the discovery that numerous proteins involved in mammalian disease localize to the basal bodies and cilia, these organelles have emerged from relative obscurity to the center of intense research efforts in an expanding number of disease- and developmental-related fields. Our understanding of the association between cilia and human disease has benefited substantially from the use of lower organisms such as Chlamydomonas and Caenorhabditis elegans and the availability of murine models and cell culture. These research endeavors led to the discovery that loss of normal ciliary function in mammals is responsible for cystic and noncystic pathology in the kidney, liver, brain, and pancreas, as well as severe developmental patterning abnormalities. In addition, the localization of proteins involved in rare human disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome has suggested that cilia-related dysfunction may play a role in modern human epidemics such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Although we have made great advances in demonstrating the importance of cilia over the past decade, the physiological role that this organelle plays in most tissues remains elusive. Research focused on addressing this issue will be of critical importance for a further understanding of how ciliary dysfunction can lead to such severe disease and developmental pathologies.
Davenport
James R
JR
Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA.
Yoder
Bradley K
BK
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007619:Kartagener Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D016547:Kinesins / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D010179:Pancreas / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C479520:Ift172 protein, mouse; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C490202:Kif3a protein, mouse; D016547:Kinesins