title: Co-evolution between an endosymbiont and its nematode host: Wolbachia asymmetric posterior localization and AP polarity establishment.
abstract: While bacterial symbionts influence a variety of host cellular responses throughout development, there are no documented instances in which symbionts influence early embryogenesis. Here we demonstrate that Wolbachia, an obligate endosymbiont of the parasitic filarial nematodes, is required for proper anterior-posterior polarity establishment in the filarial nematode B. malayi. Characterization of pre- and post-fertilization events in B. malayi reveals that, unlike C. elegans, the centrosomes are maternally derived and produce a cortical-based microtubule organizing center prior to fertilization. We establish that Wolbachia rely on these cortical microtubules and dynein to concentrate at the posterior cortex. Wolbachia also rely on PAR-1 and PAR-3 polarity cues for normal concentration at the posterior cortex. Finally, we demonstrate that Wolbachia depletion results in distinct anterior-posterior polarity defects. These results provide a striking example of endosymbiont-host co-evolution operating on the core initial developmental event of axis determination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, Sinsheimer Labs, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America; Centre de Recherche de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Landmann
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeremy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Microbiology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Michalski
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Barton E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Slatko
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, Sinsheimer Labs, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017178:Brugia malayi / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D018385:Centrosome / Q000502:physiology; D004398:Dyneins / Q000502:physiology; D022101:Microtubule-Organizing Center / Q000502:physiology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004398:Dyneins