1
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Ansel M, Ramachandran K, Dey G, Brunet T. Origin and evolution of microvilli. Biol Cell 2024:e2400054. [PMID: 39233537 DOI: 10.1111/boc.202400054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Microvilli are finger-like, straight, and stable cellular protrusions that are filled with F-actin and present a stereotypical length. They are present in a broad range of cell types across the animal tree of life and mediate several fundamental functions, including nutrient absorption, photosensation, and mechanosensation. Therefore, understanding the origin and evolution of microvilli is key to reconstructing the evolution of animal cellular form and function. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on microvilli evolution and perform a bioinformatic survey of the conservation of genes encoding microvillar proteins in animals and their unicellular relatives. RESULTS We first present a detailed description of mammalian microvilli based on two well-studied examples, the brush border microvilli of enterocytes and the stereocilia of hair cells. We also survey the broader diversity of microvilli and discuss similarities and differences between microvilli and filopodia. Based on our bioinformatic survey coupled with carefully reconstructed molecular phylogenies, we reconstitute the order of evolutionary appearance of microvillar proteins. We document the stepwise evolutionary assembly of the "molecular microvillar toolkit" with notable bursts of innovation at two key nodes: the last common filozoan ancestor (correlated with the evolution of microvilli distinct from filopodia) and the last common choanozoan ancestor (correlated with the emergence of inter-microvillar adhesions). CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE We conclude with a scenario for the evolution of microvilli from filopodia-like ancestral structures in unicellular precursors of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mylan Ansel
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR3691, Evolutionary Cell Biology and Evolution of Morphogenesis Unit, Paris, France
- Cell Biology and Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Master BioSciences, Département de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Kaustubh Ramachandran
- Cell Biology and Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gautam Dey
- Cell Biology and Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thibaut Brunet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR3691, Evolutionary Cell Biology and Evolution of Morphogenesis Unit, Paris, France
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2
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Wei D, Quaranta G, Aubin-Tam ME, Tam DSW. The younger flagellum sets the beat for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. eLife 2024; 13:e86102. [PMID: 38752724 PMCID: PMC11098555 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes swim with coordinated flagellar (ciliary) beating and steer by fine-tuning the coordination. The model organism for studying flagellate motility, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, employs synchronous, breaststroke-like flagellar beating to swim, and it modulates the beating amplitudes differentially to steer. This strategy hinges on both inherent flagellar asymmetries (e.g. different response to chemical messengers) and such asymmetries being effectively coordinated in the synchronous beating. In C. reinhardtii, the synchrony of beating is known to be supported by a mechanical connection between flagella; however, how flagellar asymmetries persist in the synchrony remains elusive. For example, it has been speculated for decades that one flagellum leads the beating, as its dynamic properties (i.e. frequency, waveform, etc.) appear to be copied by the other one. In this study, we combine experiments, computations, and modeling efforts to elucidate the roles played by each flagellum in synchronous beating. With a non-invasive technique to selectively load each flagellum, we show that the coordinated beating essentially only responds to load exerted on the cis flagellum; and that such asymmetry in response derives from a unilateral coupling between the two flagella. Our results highlight a distinct role for each flagellum in coordination and have implication for biflagellates' tactic behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Wei
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of TechnologyDelftNetherlands
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Greta Quaranta
- Laboratory for Aero and Hydrodynamics, Delft University of TechnologyDelftNetherlands
| | - Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of TechnologyDelftNetherlands
| | - Daniel SW Tam
- Laboratory for Aero and Hydrodynamics, Delft University of TechnologyDelftNetherlands
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3
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von Kenne A, Bär M, Niedermayer T. Hydrodynamic synchronization of elastic cilia: How surface effects determine the characteristics of metachronal waves. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:054407. [PMID: 38907471 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.054407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Cilia are hairlike microactuators whose cyclic motion is specialized to propel extracellular fluids at low Reynolds numbers. Clusters of these organelles can form synchronized beating patterns, called metachronal waves, which presumably arise from hydrodynamic interactions. We model hydrodynamically interacting cilia by microspheres elastically bound to circular orbits, whose inclinations with respect to a no-slip wall model the ciliary power and recovery stroke, resulting in an anisotropy of the viscous flow. We derive a coupled phase-oscillator description by reducing the microsphere dynamics to the slow timescale of synchronization and determine analytical metachronal wave solutions and their stability in a periodic chain setting. In this framework, a simple intuition for the hydrodynamic coupling between phase oscillators is established by relating the geometry of flow near the surface of a cell or tissue to the directionality of the hydrodynamic coupling functions. This intuition naturally explains the properties of the linear stability of metachronal waves. The flow near the surface stabilizes metachronal waves with long wavelengths propagating in the direction of the power stroke and, moreover, metachronal waves with short wavelengths propagating perpendicularly to the power stroke. Performing simulations of phase-oscillator chains with periodic boundary conditions, we indeed find that both wave types emerge with a variety of linearly stable wave numbers. In open chains of phase oscillators, the dynamics of metachronal waves is fundamentally different. Here the elasticity of the model cilia controls the wave direction and selects a particular wave number: At large elasticity, waves traveling in the direction of the power stroke are stable, whereas at smaller elasticity waves in the opposite direction are stable. For intermediate elasticity both wave directions coexist. In this regime, waves propagating towards both ends of the chain form, but only one wave direction prevails, depending on the elasticity and initial conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert von Kenne
- Department of Mathematical Modelling and Data Analysis, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Berlin 10587, Germany
| | - Markus Bär
- Department of Mathematical Modelling and Data Analysis, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Berlin 10587, Germany
| | - Thomas Niedermayer
- Department of Mathematical Modelling and Data Analysis, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Berlin 10587, Germany
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4
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Wan KY, Poon RN. Mechanisms and functions of multiciliary coordination. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 86:102286. [PMID: 38035649 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Ciliated organisms are present in virtually every branch of the eukaryotic tree of life. In diverse systems, cilia operate in a coordinated manner to drive fluid flows, or even propel entire organisms. How do groups of motile cilia coordinate their activity within a cell or across a tissue to fulfil essential functions of life? In this review, we highlight the latest developments in our understanding of the mechanisms and functions of multiciliary coordination in diverse systems. We explore new and emerging trends in bioimaging, analytical, and computational methods, which together with their application in new model systems, have conspired to deliver important insights into one of the most fundamental questions in cellular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Y Wan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, UK.
| | - Rebecca N Poon
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, UK
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5
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Larson BT. Perspectives on Principles of Cellular Behavior from the Biophysics of Protists. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:1405-1421. [PMID: 37496203 PMCID: PMC10755178 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells are the fundamental unit of biological organization. Although it may be easy to think of them as little more than the simple building blocks of complex organisms such as animals, single cells are capable of behaviors of remarkable apparent sophistication. This is abundantly clear when considering the diversity of form and function among the microbial eukaryotes, the protists. How might we navigate this diversity in the search for general principles of cellular behavior? Here, we review cases in which the intensive study of protists from the perspective of cellular biophysics has driven insight into broad biological questions of morphogenesis, navigation and motility, and decision making. We argue that applying such approaches to questions of evolutionary cell biology presents rich, emerging opportunities. Integrating and expanding biophysical studies across protist diversity, exploiting the unique characteristics of each organism, will enrich our understanding of general underlying principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben T Larson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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6
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Rombouts J, Elliott J, Erzberger A. Forceful patterning: theoretical principles of mechanochemical pattern formation. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57739. [PMID: 37916772 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological pattern formation is essential for generating and maintaining spatial structures from the scale of a single cell to tissues and even collections of organisms. Besides biochemical interactions, there is an important role for mechanical and geometrical features in the generation of patterns. We review the theoretical principles underlying different types of mechanochemical pattern formation across spatial scales and levels of biological organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Rombouts
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jenna Elliott
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Erzberger
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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7
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Wan KY. Active oscillations in microscale navigation. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1837-1850. [PMID: 37665482 PMCID: PMC10769930 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01819-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Living organisms routinely navigate their surroundings in search of better conditions, more food, or to avoid predators. Typically, animals do so by integrating sensory cues from the environment with their locomotor apparatuses. For single cells or small organisms that possess motility, fundamental physical constraints imposed by their small size have led to alternative navigation strategies that are specific to the microscopic world. Intriguingly, underlying these myriad exploratory behaviours or sensory functions is the onset of periodic activity at multiple scales, such as the undulations of cilia and flagella, the vibrations of hair cells, or the oscillatory shape modes of migrating neutrophils. Here, I explore oscillatory dynamics in basal microeukaryotes and hypothesize that these active oscillations play a critical role in enhancing the fidelity of adaptive sensorimotor integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Y Wan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK.
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8
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Liu C, Wang Q, Gu L, Wang X, Yin Y, Huang T, Xiao S, Zhang S, Wang F, Zhou T, Xu G, Wang L, Dong F, Jiang J, Luo M, Li J, Zhang H, Zi-Jiang Chen, Ji W, Ji B, Liu H, Li W. CCDC176 stabilizes microtubule doublets 1 and 9 to ensure proper sperm movement. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3371-3388.e7. [PMID: 37494937 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The molecular mechanism underlying asymmetric axonemal complexes in sperm flagella is still largely unknown. Here, we showed that the knockout of the coiled-coil domain-containing 176 (CCDC176) in mice led to male infertility due to decreased sperm motility. Ccdc176 knockout specifically destabilized microtubule doublets (MTDs) 1 and 9 during sperm maturation in the corpus epididymis. Single-sperm immunofluorescence showed that most CCDC176 was distributed along the axoneme, and further super-resolution imaging revealed that CCDC176 is asymmetrically localized in the sperm axoneme. CCDC176 could cooperate with microtubule and radial spoke proteins to stabilize MTDs 1 and 9, and its knockout results in the destabilization of some proteins in sperm flagella. Furthermore, as predicted by the sperm multibody dynamics (MBD) model, we found that MTDs 1 and 9 jutted out from the sperm flagellum annulus region in Ccdc176-/- spermatozoa, and these flagellar defects alter sperm flagellar beat patterns and swimming paths, potentially owing to the reduction and disequilibration of bending torque on the central pair. These results demonstrate that CCDC176 specifically stabilizes MTDs 1 and 9 in the sperm flagellum to ensure proper sperm movement for fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qianchun Wang
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325001, China
| | - Lusheng Gu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiuge Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yingying Yin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Sai Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuwen Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Fuqiang Wang
- Analysis Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- Research Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China
| | - Guangqiong Xu
- Analysis Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Liying Wang
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Fucheng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- Genome Tagging Project (GTP) Center, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Mengcheng Luo
- Department of Tissue and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- Genome Tagging Project (GTP) Center, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Haobo Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Zi-Jiang Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Wei Ji
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Baohua Ji
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
| | - Wei Li
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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9
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Wang Z, Fang K, Wan Y, Yin Y, Li M, Xu K, Li T, Cao Y, Lv Y, Lu G, Liu H, Huang T. TTC6-Mediated Stabilization of the Flagellum Annulus Ensures the Rapid and Directed Motion of Sperm. Cells 2023; 12:2091. [PMID: 37626901 PMCID: PMC10453820 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm motility and structural integrity are essential for successful fertilization in vivo, and any hindrance of the correct assembly of the axoneme and peri-axonemal structures in the sperm flagellum can lead to fertility problems. While there has been considerable advancement in studying diseases related to the flagellum, the underlying mechanisms that control sperm movement are not yet fully understood. In this study, we reveal that the tetratricopeptide repeat protein 6 (Ttc6) gene, expressed mainly in the testes, plays a crucial role in maintaining male fertility in mice. We further demonstrate that the knockout of Ttc6 in mice results in decreased sperm motility and induces an abnormal circular swimming pattern, consequently leading to male subfertility. Morphological analysis showed an atypical hairpin-like appearance of the spermatozoa, and ultrastructural studies showed unsheathed flagella at the juncture between the midpiece and principal piece. Collectively, these findings suggest that TTC6 plays an essential role in maintaining the stability of the annulus region of the sperm flagellum, thus ensuring the swift and directed motion of sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqi Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Kailun Fang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China;
| | - Yanling Wan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yingying Yin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Mengjing Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Ke Xu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Tongtong Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yongzhi Cao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- The Model Animal Research Centre, Shandong University, Jinan 250010, China
| | - Yue Lv
- CUHK-SDU Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Gang Lu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- CUHK-SDU Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- CUHK-SDU Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
- Research Unit of Gametogenesis and Health of ART-Offspring, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (Z.W.); (Y.W.); (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (K.X.); (T.L.); (Y.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan 250012, China
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10
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Leung MR, Zeng J, Wang X, Roelofs MC, Huang W, Zenezini Chiozzi R, Hevler JF, Heck AJR, Dutcher SK, Brown A, Zhang R, Zeev-Ben-Mordehai T. Structural specializations of the sperm tail. Cell 2023; 186:2880-2896.e17. [PMID: 37327785 PMCID: PMC10948200 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sperm motility is crucial to reproductive success in sexually reproducing organisms. Impaired sperm movement causes male infertility, which is increasing globally. Sperm are powered by a microtubule-based molecular machine-the axoneme-but it is unclear how axonemal microtubules are ornamented to support motility in diverse fertilization environments. Here, we present high-resolution structures of native axonemal doublet microtubules (DMTs) from sea urchin and bovine sperm, representing external and internal fertilizers. We identify >60 proteins decorating sperm DMTs; at least 15 are sperm associated and 16 are linked to infertility. By comparing DMTs across species and cell types, we define core microtubule inner proteins (MIPs) and analyze evolution of the tektin bundle. We identify conserved axonemal microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) with unique tubulin-binding modes. Additionally, we identify a testis-specific serine/threonine kinase that links DMTs to outer dense fibers in mammalian sperm. Our study provides structural foundations for understanding sperm evolution, motility, and dysfunction at a molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ricardo Leung
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jianwei Zeng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xiangli Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marc C Roelofs
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Riccardo Zenezini Chiozzi
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes F Hevler
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Albert J R Heck
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Susan K Dutcher
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alan Brown
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Tzviya Zeev-Ben-Mordehai
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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11
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Larson BT, Garbus J, Pollack JB, Marshall WF. A unicellular walker controlled by a microtubule-based finite-state machine. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3745-3757.e7. [PMID: 35963241 PMCID: PMC9474717 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cells are complex biochemical systems whose behaviors emerge from interactions among myriad molecular components. Computation is often invoked as a general framework for navigating this cellular complexity. However, it is unclear how cells might embody computational processes such that the theories of computation, including finite-state machine models, could be productively applied. Here, we demonstrate finite-state-machine-like processing embodied in cells using the walking behavior of Euplotes eurystomus, a ciliate that walks across surfaces using fourteen motile appendages (cirri). We found that cellular walking entails regulated transitions among a discrete set of gait states. The set of observed transitions decomposes into a small group of high-probability, temporally irreversible transitions and a large group of low-probability, time-symmetric transitions, thus revealing stereotypy in the sequential patterns of state transitions. Simulations and experiments suggest that the sequential logic of the gait is functionally important. Taken together, these findings implicate a finite-state-machine-like process. Cirri are connected by microtubule bundles (fibers), and we found that the dynamics of cirri involved in different state transitions are associated with the structure of the fiber system. Perturbative experiments revealed that the fibers mediate gait coordination, suggesting a mechanical basis of gait control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben T Larson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Jack Garbus
- Computer Science Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Jordan B Pollack
- Computer Science Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Wallace F Marshall
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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12
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Ahmerkamp S, Jalaluddin FM, Cui Y, Brumley DR, Pacherres CO, Berg JS, Stocker R, Kuypers MM, Koren K, Behrendt L. Simultaneous visualization of flow fields and oxygen concentrations to unravel transport and metabolic processes in biological systems. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2022; 2:100216. [PMID: 35637907 PMCID: PMC9142687 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
From individual cells to whole organisms, O2 transport unfolds across micrometer- to millimeter-length scales and can change within milliseconds in response to fluid flows and organismal behavior. The spatiotemporal complexity of these processes makes the accurate assessment of O2 dynamics via currently available methods difficult or unreliable. Here, we present "sensPIV," a method to simultaneously measure O2 concentrations and flow fields. By tracking O2-sensitive microparticles in flow using imaging technologies that allow for instantaneous referencing, we measured O2 transport within (1) microfluidic devices, (2) sinking model aggregates, and (3) complex colony-forming corals. Through the use of sensPIV, we find that corals use ciliary movement to link zones of photosynthetic O2 production to zones of O2 consumption. SensPIV can potentially be extendable to study flow-organism interactions across many life-science and engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soeren Ahmerkamp
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Yuan Cui
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Douglas R. Brumley
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Cesar O. Pacherres
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Jasmine S. Berg
- Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roman Stocker
- Institute for Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Klaus Koren
- Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Behrendt
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
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13
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Fleig P, Kramar M, Wilczek M, Alim K. Emergence of behaviour in a self-organized living matter network. eLife 2022; 11:62863. [PMID: 35060901 PMCID: PMC8782570 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
What is the origin of behaviour? Although typically associated with a nervous system, simple organisms also show complex behaviours. Among them, the slime mold Physarum polycephalum, a giant single cell, is ideally suited to study emergence of behaviour. Here, we show how locomotion and morphological adaptation behaviour emerge from self-organized patterns of rhythmic contractions of the actomyosin lining of the tubes making up the network-shaped organism. We quantify the spatio-temporal contraction dynamics by decomposing experimentally recorded contraction patterns into spatial contraction modes. Notably, we find a continuous spectrum of modes, as opposed to a few dominant modes. Our data suggests that the continuous spectrum of modes allows for dynamic transitions between a plethora of specific behaviours with transitions marked by highly irregular contraction states. By mapping specific behaviours to states of active contractions, we provide the basis to understand behaviour’s complexity as a function of biomechanical dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Fleig
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
| | - Mirna Kramar
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
| | | | - Karen Alim
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
- Physik-Department and Center for Protein Assemblies, Technische Universität München
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14
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Wei X, Sha Y, Wei Z, Zhu X, He F, Zhang X, Liu W, Wang Y, Lu Z. Bi-allelic mutations in DNAH7 cause asthenozoospermia by impairing the integrality of axoneme structure. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2021; 53:1300-1309. [PMID: 34476482 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmab113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthenozoospermia is the most common cause of male infertility. Dynein protein arms play a crucial role in the motility of both the cilia and flagella, and defects in these proteins generally impair the axoneme structure and cause primary ciliary dyskinesia. But relatively little is known about the influence of dynein protein arm defects on sperm flagella function. Here, we recruited 85 infertile patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia and identified bi-allelic mutations in DNAH7 (NM_018897.3) from three patients using whole-exome sequencing. These variants are rare, highly pathogenic, and very conserved. The spermatozoa from the patients with DNAH7 bi-allelic mutations showed specific losses in the inner dynein arms. The expression of DNAH7 in the spermatozoa from the DNAH7-defective patients was significantly decreased, but these patients were able to have their children via intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. Our study is the first to demonstrate that bi-allelic mutations in DNAH7 may impair the integrality of axoneme structure, affect sperm motility, and cause asthenozoospermia in humans. These findings may extend the spectrum of etiological genes and provide new clues for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with asthenozoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Wei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, Women and Children’s Hospital and School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Zijie Wei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xingshen Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Fengming He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xiaoya Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Zhongxian Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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15
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Abstract
To gain a holistic understanding of cellular function, we must understand not just the role of individual organelles, but also how multiple macromolecular assemblies function collectively. Centrioles produce fundamental cellular processes through their ability to organise cytoskeletal fibres. In addition to nucleating microtubules, centrioles form lesser-known polymers, termed rootlets. Rootlets were identified over a 100 years ago and have been documented morphologically since by electron microscopy in different eukaryotic organisms. Rootlet-knockout animals have been created in various systems, providing insight into their physiological functions. However, the precise structure and function of rootlets is still enigmatic. Here, I consider common themes of rootlet function and assembly across diverse cellular systems. I suggest that the capability of rootlets to form physical links from centrioles to other cellular structures is a general principle unifying their functions in diverse cells and serves as an example of how cellular function arises from collective organellar activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Mahen
- The Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
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16
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Kumar V, Umair Z, Kumar S, Goutam RS, Park S, Kim J. The regulatory roles of motile cilia in CSF circulation and hydrocephalus. Fluids Barriers CNS 2021; 18:31. [PMID: 34233705 PMCID: PMC8261947 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-021-00265-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an ultra-filtrated colorless brain fluid that circulates within brain spaces like the ventricular cavities, subarachnoid space, and the spine. Its continuous flow serves many primary functions, including nourishment, brain protection, and waste removal. Main body The abnormal accumulation of CSF in brain cavities triggers severe hydrocephalus. Accumulating evidence had indicated that synchronized beats of motile cilia (cilia from multiciliated cells or the ependymal lining in brain ventricles) provide forceful pressure to generate and restrain CSF flow and maintain overall CSF circulation within brain spaces. In humans, the disorders caused by defective primary and/or motile cilia are generally referred to as ciliopathies. The key role of CSF circulation in brain development and its functioning has not been fully elucidated. Conclusions In this review, we briefly discuss the underlying role of motile cilia in CSF circulation and hydrocephalus. We have reviewed cilia and ciliated cells in the brain and the existing evidence for the regulatory role of functional cilia in CSF circulation in the brain. We further discuss the findings obtained for defective cilia and their potential involvement in hydrocephalus. Furthermore, this review will reinforce the idea of motile cilia as master regulators of CSF movements, brain development, and neuronal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Zobia Umair
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea.,Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, 21999, Republic of Korea
| | - Shiv Kumar
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews, St. Mary's Quad, South Street. St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9JP, UK
| | - Ravi Shankar Goutam
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Soochul Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaebong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Byron ML, Murphy DW, Katija K, Hoover AP, Daniels J, Garayev K, Takagi D, Kanso E, Gemmell BJ, Ruszczyk M, Santhanakrishnan A. Metachronal motion across scales: current challenges and future directions. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1674-1688. [PMID: 34048537 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Metachronal motion is used across a wide range of organisms for a diverse set of functions. However, despite its ubiquity, analysis of this behavior has been difficult to generalize across systems. Here we provide an overview of known commonalities and differences between systems that use metachrony to generate fluid flow. We also discuss strategies for standardizing terminology and defining future investigative directions that are analogous to other established subfields of biomechanics. Lastly, we outline key challenges that are common to many metachronal systems, opportunities that have arisen due to the advent of new technology (both experimental and computational), and next steps for community development and collaboration across the nascent network of metachronal researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David W Murphy
- University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Kakani Katija
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Rd, Moss Landing, CA, 95039, USA
| | | | - Joost Daniels
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Rd, Moss Landing, CA, 95039, USA
| | - Kuvvat Garayev
- University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Daisuke Takagi
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2500 Campus Rd, Honolulu, HI, 96822
| | - Eva Kanso
- University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA, 90007
| | | | - Melissa Ruszczyk
- Georgia Institute of Technology, 310 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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18
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Brette R. Integrative Neuroscience of Paramecium, a "Swimming Neuron". eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0018-21.2021. [PMID: 33952615 PMCID: PMC8208649 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0018-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Paramecium is a unicellular organism that swims in fresh water by beating thousands of cilia. When it is stimulated (mechanically, chemically, optically, thermally…), it often swims backward then turns and swims forward again. This "avoiding reaction" is triggered by a calcium-based action potential. For this reason, some authors have called Paramecium a "swimming neuron." This review summarizes current knowledge about the physiological basis of behavior of Paramecium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Brette
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de la Vision, Paris 75012, France
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19
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Leung MR, Roelofs MC, Ravi RT, Maitan P, Henning H, Zhang M, Bromfield EG, Howes SC, Gadella BM, Bloomfield‐Gadêlha H, Zeev‐Ben‐Mordehai T. The multi-scale architecture of mammalian sperm flagella and implications for ciliary motility. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107410. [PMID: 33694216 PMCID: PMC8013824 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Motile cilia are molecular machines used by a myriad of eukaryotic cells to swim through fluid environments. However, available molecular structures represent only a handful of cell types, limiting our understanding of how cilia are modified to support motility in diverse media. Here, we use cryo-focused ion beam milling-enabled cryo-electron tomography to image sperm flagella from three mammalian species. We resolve in-cell structures of centrioles, axonemal doublets, central pair apparatus, and endpiece singlets, revealing novel protofilament-bridging microtubule inner proteins throughout the flagellum. We present native structures of the flagellar base, which is crucial for shaping the flagellar beat. We show that outer dense fibers are directly coupled to microtubule doublets in the principal piece but not in the midpiece. Thus, mammalian sperm flagella are ornamented across scales, from protofilament-bracing structures reinforcing microtubules at the nano-scale to accessory structures that impose micron-scale asymmetries on the entire assembly. Our structures provide vital foundations for linking molecular structure to ciliary motility and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ricardo Leung
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- The Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsThe University of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Marc C Roelofs
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Ravi Teja Ravi
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Paula Maitan
- Department of Equine SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Veterinary DepartmentUniversidade Federal de ViçosaViçosaBrazil
| | - Heiko Henning
- Department of Equine SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Farm & Animal Health and Biomolecular Health SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth G Bromfield
- Department of Farm & Animal Health and Biomolecular Health SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceFaculty of ScienceThe University of NewcastleCallaghanNSWAustralia
| | - Stuart C Howes
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Bart M Gadella
- Department of Farm & Animal Health and Biomolecular Health SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | - Tzviya Zeev‐Ben‐Mordehai
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- The Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsThe University of OxfordOxfordUK
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20
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Abstract
All living cells interact dynamically with a constantly changing world. Eukaryotes, in particular, evolved radically new ways to sense and react to their environment. These advances enabled new and more complex forms of cellular behaviour in eukaryotes, including directional movement, active feeding, mating, and responses to predation. But what are the key events and innovations during eukaryogenesis that made all of this possible? Here we describe the ancestral repertoire of eukaryotic excitability and discuss five major cellular innovations that enabled its evolutionary origin. The innovations include a vastly expanded repertoire of ion channels, the emergence of cilia and pseudopodia, endomembranes as intracellular capacitors, a flexible plasma membrane and the relocation of chemiosmotic ATP synthesis to mitochondria, which liberated the plasma membrane for more complex electrical signalling involved in sensing and reacting. We conjecture that together with an increase in cell size, these new forms of excitability greatly amplified the degrees of freedom associated with cellular responses, allowing eukaryotes to vastly outperform prokaryotes in terms of both speed and accuracy. This comprehensive new perspective on the evolution of excitability enriches our view of eukaryogenesis and emphasizes behaviour and sensing as major contributors to the success of eukaryotes. This article is part of the theme issue 'Basal cognition: conceptual tools and the view from the single cell'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Y. Wan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Gáspár Jékely
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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21
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Tanasijević I, Lauga E. Hydrodynamic synchronization in strong confinement. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:022403. [PMID: 33736031 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.022403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cellular appendages conferring motility, such as flagella and cilia, are known to synchronise their periodic beats. The origin of synchronization is a combination of long-range hydrodynamic interactions with physical mechanisms allowing the phases of these biological oscillators to evolve. Two of such mechanisms have been identified by previous work, the elastic compliance of the periodic orbit or oscillations driven by phase-dependent biological forcing, both of which can lead generically to stable phase locking. In order to help uncover the physical mechanism for hydrodynamic synchronization most essential overall in biology, we theoretically investigate in this paper the effect of strong confinement on the effectiveness of hydrodynamic synchronization. Following past work, we use minimal models of cilia where appendages are modeled as rigid spheres forced to move along circular trajectories near a rigid surface. Strong confinement is modeled by adding a second nearby surface, parallel to the first one, where the distance between the surfaces is much smaller than the typical distance between the cilia, which results in a qualitative change in the nature of hydrodynamic interactions. We calculate separately the impact of hydrodynamic confinement on the synchronization dynamics of the elastic compliance and the force modulation mechanisms and compare our results to the usual case with a single surface. Applying our results to the biologically relevant situation of nodal cilia, we show that force modulation is a mechanism that leads to phase-locked states under strong confinement that are very similar to those without confinement as a difference with the elastic compliance mechanism. Our results point therefore to the robustness of force modulation for synchronization, an important feature for biological dynamics that therefore suggests it could be the most essential physical mechanism overall in arrays of nodal cilia. We further examine the distinct biologically relevant situation of primary cilia and show in that case that the difference in robustness of the mechanisms is not as pronounced but still favors the force modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Tanasijević
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0WA, United Kingdom
| | - Eric Lauga
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0WA, United Kingdom
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22
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Asadzadeh SS, Kiørboe T, Larsen PS, Leys SP, Yahel G, Walther JH. Hydrodynamics of sponge pumps and evolution of the sponge body plan. eLife 2020; 9:e61012. [PMID: 33252039 PMCID: PMC7755389 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sponges are suspension feeders that filter vast amounts of water. Pumping is carried out by flagellated chambers that are connected to an inhalant and exhalant canal system. In 'leucon' sponges with relatively high-pressure resistance due to a complex and narrow canal system, pumping and filtering are only possible owing to the presence of a gasket-like structure (forming a canopy above the collar filters). Here, we combine numerical and experimental work and demonstrate how sponges that lack such sealing elements are able to efficiently pump and force the flagella-driven flow through their collar filter, thanks to the formation of a 'hydrodynamic gasket' above the collar. Our findings link the architecture of flagellated chambers to that of the canal system, and lend support to the current view that the sponge aquiferous system evolved from an open-type filtration system, and that the first metazoans were filter feeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Saeed Asadzadeh
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources and Centre for Ocean Life, Technical University of DenmarkLyngbyDenmark
| | - Thomas Kiørboe
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources and Centre for Ocean Life, Technical University of DenmarkLyngbyDenmark
| | - Poul Scheel Larsen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of DenmarkLyngbyDenmark
| | - Sally P Leys
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405 Biological Sciences BuildingEdmontonCanada
| | - Gitai Yahel
- The Faculty of Marine Science, Ruppin Academic CenterMichmoretIsrael
| | - Jens H Walther
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of DenmarkLyngbyDenmark
- Computational Science and Engineering Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ZürichZürichSwitzerland
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23
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Maschmann S, Ruban K, Wientapper J, Walter WJ. Phototaxis of the Unicellular Red Alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae Is Mediated by Novel Actin-Driven Tentacles. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6209. [PMID: 32867346 PMCID: PMC7503314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Phototaxis, which is the ability to move towards or away from a light source autonomously, is a common mechanism of unicellular algae. It evolved multiple times independently in different plant lineages. As of yet, algal phototaxis has been linked mainly to the presence of cilia, the only known locomotive organelle in unicellular algae. Red algae (Rhodophyta), however, lack cilia in all stages of their life cycle. Remarkably, multiple unicellular red algae like the extremophile Cyanidioschyzon merolae (C. merolae) can move towards light. Remarkably, it has remained unclear how C. merolae achieves movement, and the presence of a completely new mechanism has been suggested. Here we show that the basis of this movement are novel retractable projections, termed tentacles due to their distinct morphology. These tentacles could be reproducibly induced within 20 min by increasing the salt concentration of the culture medium. Electron microscopy revealed filamentous structures inside the tentacles that we identified to be actin filaments. This is surprising as C. merolae's single actin gene was previously published to not be expressed. Based on our findings, we propose a model for C. merolae's actin-driven but myosin-independent motility. To our knowledge, the described tentacles represent a novel motility mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wilhelm J. Walter
- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; (S.M.); (K.R.); (J.W.)
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24
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Wan KY. Synchrony and symmetry-breaking in active flagellar coordination. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190393. [PMID: 31884920 PMCID: PMC7017343 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Living creatures exhibit a remarkable diversity of locomotion mechanisms, evolving structures specialized for interacting with their environment. In the vast majority of cases, locomotor behaviours such as flying, crawling and running are orchestrated by nervous systems. Surprisingly, microorganisms can enact analogous movement gaits for swimming using multiple, fast-moving cellular protrusions called cilia and flagella. Here, I demonstrate intermittency, reversible rhythmogenesis and gait mechanosensitivity in algal flagella, to reveal the active nature of locomotor patterning. In addition to maintaining free-swimming gaits, I show that the algal flagellar apparatus functions as a central pattern generator that encodes the beating of each flagellum in a network in a distinguishable manner. The latter provides a novel symmetry-breaking mechanism for cell reorientation. These findings imply that the capacity to generate and coordinate complex locomotor patterns does not require neural circuitry but rather the minimal ingredients are present in simple unicellular organisms. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Unity and diversity of cilia in locomotion and transport'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Y. Wan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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25
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Böddeker TJ, Karpitschka S, Kreis CT, Magdelaine Q, Bäumchen O. Dynamic force measurements on swimming Chlamydomonas cells using micropipette force sensors. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20190580. [PMID: 31937233 PMCID: PMC7014799 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2019.0580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Flagella and cilia are cellular appendages that inherit essential functions of microbial life including sensing and navigating the environment. In order to propel a swimming microorganism they displace the surrounding fluid by means of periodic motions, while precisely timed modulations of their beating patterns enable the cell to steer towards or away from specific locations. Characterizing the dynamic forces, however, is challenging and typically relies on indirect experimental approaches. Here, we present direct in vivo measurements of the dynamic forces of motile Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells in controlled environments. The experiments are based on partially aspirating a living microorganism at the tip of a micropipette force sensor and optically recording the micropipette's position fluctuations with high temporal and sub-pixel spatial resolution. Spectral signal analysis allows for isolating the cell-generated dynamic forces caused by the periodic motion of the flagella from background noise. We provide an analytic, elasto-hydrodynamic model for the micropipette force sensor and describe how to obtain the micropipette's full frequency response function from a dynamic force calibration. Using this approach, we measure the amplitude of the oscillatory forces during the swimming activity of individual Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells of 26 ± 5 pN, resulting from the coordinated flagellar beating with a frequency of 49 ± 5 Hz. This dynamic micropipette force sensor technique generalizes the applicability of micropipettes as force sensors from static to dynamic force measurements, yielding a force sensitivity in the piconewton range. In addition to measurements in bulk liquid environment, we study the dynamic forces of the biflagellated microswimmer in the vicinity of a solid/liquid interface. As we gradually decrease the distance of the swimming microbe to the interface, we measure a significantly enhanced force transduction at distances larger than the maximum extent of the beating flagella, highlighting the importance of hydrodynamic interactions for scenarios in which flagellated microorganisms encounter surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Oliver Bäumchen
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), Am Faßberg 17, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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26
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Wan KY, Hürlimann SK, Fenix AM, McGillivary RM, Makushok T, Burns E, Sheung JY, Marshall WF. Reorganization of complex ciliary flows around regenerating Stentor coeruleus. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 375:20190167. [PMID: 31884915 PMCID: PMC7017328 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenomenon of ciliary coordination has garnered increasing attention in recent decades and multiple theories have been proposed to explain its occurrence in different biological systems. While hydrodynamic interactions are thought to dictate the large-scale coordinated activity of epithelial cilia for fluid transport, it is rather basal coupling that accounts for synchronous swimming gaits in model microeukaryotes such as Chlamydomonas. Unicellular ciliates present a fascinating yet understudied context in which coordination is found to persist in ciliary arrays positioned across millimetre scales on the same cell. Here, we focus on the ciliate Stentor coeruleus, chosen for its large size, complex ciliary organization, and capacity for cellular regeneration. These large protists exhibit ciliary differentiation between cortical rows of short body cilia used for swimming, and an anterior ring of longer, fused cilia called the membranellar band (MB). The oral cilia in the MB beat metachronously to produce strong feeding currents. Remarkably, upon injury, the MB can be shed and regenerated de novo. Here, we follow and track this developmental sequence in its entirety to elucidate the emergence of coordinated ciliary beating: from band formation, elongation, curling and final migration towards the cell anterior. We reveal a complex interplay between hydrodynamics and ciliary restructuring in Stentor, and highlight for the first time the importance of a ring-like topology for achieving long-range metachronism in ciliated structures. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Unity and diversity of cilia in locomotion and transport’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Y Wan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Physiology Course, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Sylvia K Hürlimann
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Physiology Course, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Aidan M Fenix
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, WA 98109, USA.,Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, WA 98109, USA.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Physiology Course, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Rebecca M McGillivary
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Physiology Course, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Tatyana Makushok
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Physiology Course, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Evan Burns
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, NY 12604, USA.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Whitman Center, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Janet Y Sheung
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vassar College, NY 12604, USA.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Whitman Center, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Wallace F Marshall
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Physiology Course, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
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Abstract
Cilia are specialized cellular organelles that are united in structure and implicated in diverse key life processes across eukaryotes. In both unicellular and multicellular organisms, variations on the same ancestral form mediate sensing, locomotion and the production of physiological flows. As we usher in a new, more interdisciplinary era, the way we study cilia is changing. This special theme issue brings together biologists, biophysicists and mathematicians to highlight the remarkable range of systems in which motile cilia fulfil vital functions, and to inspire and define novel strategies for future research. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Unity and diversity of cilia in locomotion and transport'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Y Wan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Gáspár Jékely
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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28
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Bayless BA, Navarro FM, Winey M. Motile Cilia: Innovation and Insight From Ciliate Model Organisms. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:265. [PMID: 31737631 PMCID: PMC6838636 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ciliates are a powerful model organism for the study of basal bodies and motile cilia. These single-celled protists contain hundreds of cilia organized in an array making them an ideal system for both light and electron microscopy studies. Isolation and subsequent proteomic analysis of both cilia and basal bodies have been carried out to great success in ciliates. These studies reveal that ciliates share remarkable protein conservation with metazoans and have identified a number of essential basal body/ciliary proteins. Ciliates also boast a genetic and molecular toolbox that allows for facile manipulation of ciliary genes. Reverse genetics studies in ciliates have expanded our understanding of how cilia are positioned within an array, assembled, stabilized, and function at a molecular level. The advantages of cilia number coupled with a robust genetic and molecular toolbox have established ciliates as an ideal system for motile cilia and basal body research and prove a promising system for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Bayless
- Department of Biology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, United States
| | - Francesca M Navarro
- Department of Biology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, United States
| | - Mark Winey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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