In situ imaging in C. elegans reveals developmental regulation of microtubule dynamics.
Microtubules (MTs) are cytoskeletal polymers that undergo dynamic instability, the stochastic transition between growth and shrinkage phases. MT dynamics are required for diverse cellular processes and, while intrinsic to tubulin, are highly regulated. However, little is known about how MT dynamics facilitate or are regulated by tissue biogenesis and differentiation. We imaged MT dynamics in a smooth muscle-like lineage in intact developing Caenorhabditis elegans. All aspects of MT dynamics change significantly as stem-like precursors exit mitosis and, secondarily, as they differentiate. We found that suppression, but not enhancement, of dynamics perturbs differentiated muscle function in vivo. Distinct ensembles of MT-associated proteins are specifically required for tissue biogenesis versus tissue function. A CLASP family MT stabilizer and the depolymerizing kinesin MCAK are differentially required for MT dynamics in the precursor or differentiated cells, respectively. All of these multidimensional phenotypic comparisons were facilitated by a data display method called the diamond graph.
Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
Benjamin
B
Lacroix
Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
Karine G
KG
Bourdages
Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
Jonas F
JF
Dorn
Department of Biology, Duke University, Science Drive, Box 90388, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Shinji
S
Ihara
Department of Biology, Duke University, Science Drive, Box 90388, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
David R
DR
Sherwood
Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
Paul S
PS
Maddox
Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C 3J7, Canada. Electronic address: asm@unc.edu.
Amy S
AS
Maddox
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology; D016547:Kinesins / Q000502:physiology; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000502:physiology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000502:physiology
C575825:CLS-1 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; C502821:klp-7 protein, C elegans; D016547:Kinesins