Smoothened and ARL13B are critical in mouse for superior cerebellar peduncle targeting

The primary cilium gene CPLANE1 is required for peripheral nervous system development

Ciliopathies are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by the dysfunction of the primary cilium. This small protrusion from most cells of our body serves as a signaling hub for cell-to-cell communication during development. Cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and neural circuit formation have been demonstrated to depend on functional primary cilia. In the context of ciliopathies, the focus has been on the development of the central nervous system, while the peripheral nervous system has not been studied in depth. In line with phenotypes seen in patients, the absence of a functional primary cilium was shown to affect the migration of cranial and vagal neural crest cells, which contribute to the development of craniofacial features and the heart, respectively. We show here that the ciliopathy gene Cplane1 is required for the development of the peripheral nervous system. Loss of Cplane1 function in chicken embryos induces defects in dorsal root ganglia, which vary in size and fail to localize symmetrically along the spinal cord. These defects may help to understand the alteration in somatosensory perceptions described in some ciliopathy patients.

Shared and unique consequences of Joubert Syndrome gene dysfunction on the zebrafish central nervous system

Joubert Syndrome (JBTS) is a neurodevelopmental ciliopathy defined by a highly specific midbrain-hindbrain malformation, variably associated with additional neurological features. JBTS displays prominent genetic heterogeneity with >40 causative genes that encode proteins localising to the primary cilium, a sensory organelle that is essential for transduction of signalling pathways during neurodevelopment, among other vital functions. JBTS proteins localise to distinct ciliary subcompartments, suggesting diverse functions in cilium biology. Currently, there is no unifying pathomechanism to explain how dysfunction of such diverse primary cilia-related proteins results in such a highly specific brain abnormality. To identify the shared consequence of JBTS gene dysfunction, we carried out transcriptomic analysis using zebrafish mutants for the JBTS-causative genes cc2d2aw38, cep290fh297, inpp5ezh506, talpid3i264 and togaram1zh510 and the Bardet-Biedl syndrome-causative gene bbs1k742. We identified no commonly dysregulated signalling pathways in these mutants and yet all mutants displayed an enrichment of altered gene sets related to central nervous system function. We found that JBTS mutants have altered primary cilia throughout the brain but do not display abnormal brain morphology. Nonetheless, behavioural analyses revealed reduced locomotion and loss of postural control which, together with the transcriptomic results, hint at underlying abnormalities in neuronal activity and/or neuronal circuit function. These zebrafish models therefore offer the unique opportunity to study the role of primary cilia in neuronal function beyond early patterning, proliferation and differentiation.

Cerebellum Lecture: the Cerebellar Nuclei-Core of the Cerebellum

The cerebellum is a key player in many brain functions and a major topic of neuroscience research. However, the cerebellar nuclei (CN), the main output structures of the cerebellum, are often overlooked. This neglect is because research on the cerebellum typically focuses on the cortex and tends to treat the CN as relatively simple output nuclei conveying an inverted signal from the cerebellar cortex to the rest of the brain. In this review, by adopting a nucleocentric perspective we aim to rectify this impression. First, we describe CN anatomy and modularity and comprehensively integrate CN architecture with its highly organized but complex afferent and efferent connectivity. This is followed by a novel classification of the specific neuronal classes the CN comprise and speculate on the implications of CN structure and physiology for our understanding of adult cerebellar function. Based on this thorough review of the adult literature we provide a comprehensive overview of CN embryonic development and, by comparing cerebellar structures in various chordate clades, propose an interpretation of CN evolution. Despite their critical importance in cerebellar function, from a clinical perspective intriguingly few, if any, neurological disorders appear to primarily affect the CN. To highlight this curious anomaly, and encourage future nucleocentric interpretations, we build on our review to provide a brief overview of the various syndromes in which the CN are currently implicated. Finally, we summarize the specific perspectives that a nucleocentric view of the cerebellum brings, move major outstanding issues in CN biology to the limelight, and provide a roadmap to the key questions that need to be answered in order to create a comprehensive integrated model of CN structure, function, development, and evolution.

RABL2 promotes the outward transition zone passage of signaling proteins in cilia via ARL3

Certain transmembrane and membrane-tethered signaling proteins export from cilia as BBSome cargoes via the outward BBSome transition zone (TZ) diffusion pathway, indispensable for maintaining their ciliary dynamics to enable cells to sense and transduce extracellular stimuli inside the cell. Murine Rab-like 2 (Rabl2) GTPase resembles Chlamydomonas Arf-like 3 (ARL3) GTPase in promoting outward TZ passage of the signaling protein cargo-laden BBSome. During this process, ARL3 binds to and recruits the retrograde IFT train-dissociated BBSome as its effector to diffuse through the TZ for ciliary retrieval, while how RABL2 and ARL3 cross talk in this event remains uncertain. Here, we report that Chlamydomonas RABL2 in a GTP-bound form (RABL2GTP) cycles through cilia via IFT as an IFT-B1 cargo, dissociates from retrograde IFT trains at a ciliary region right above the TZ, and converts to RABL2GDP for activating ARL3GDP as an ARL3 guanine nucleotide exchange factor. This confers ARL3GTP to detach from the ciliary membrane and become available for binding and recruiting the phospholipase D (PLD)-laden BBSome, autonomous of retrograde IFT association, to diffuse through the TZ for ciliary retrieval. Afterward, RABL2GDP exits cilia by being bound to the ARL3GTP/BBSome entity as a BBSome cargo. Our data identify ciliary signaling proteins exported from cilia via the RABL2-ARL3 cascade-mediated outward BBSome TZ diffusion pathway. According to this model, hedgehog signaling defect-induced Bardet-Biedl syndrome caused by RABL2 mutations in humans could be well explained in a mutation-specific manner, providing us with a mechanistic understanding behind the outward BBSome TZ passage required for proper ciliary signaling.

Ciliary ARL13B prevents obesity in mice

Cilia are near ubiquitous small, cellular appendages critical for cell-to-cell communication. As such, they are involved in diverse developmental and homeostatic processes, including energy homeostasis. ARL13B is a regulatory GTPase highly enriched in cilia. Mice expressing an engineered ARL13B variant, ARL13BV358A which retains normal biochemical activity, display no detectable ciliary ARL13B. Surprisingly, these mice become obese. Here, we measured body weight, food intake, and blood glucose levels to reveal these mice display hyperphagia and metabolic defects. We showed that ARL13B normally localizes to cilia of neurons in specific brain regions and pancreatic cells but is excluded from these cilia in the Arl13bV358A/V358A model. In addition to its GTPase function, ARL13B acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for ARL3. To test whether ARL13B's GEF activity is required to regulate body weight, we analyzed the body weight of mice expressing ARL13BR79Q, a variant that lacks ARL13B GEF activity for ARL3. We found no difference in body weight. Taken together, our results show that ARL13B functions within cilia to control body weight and that this function does not depend on its role as a GEF for ARL3. Controlling the subcellular localization of ARL13B in the engineered mouse model, ARL13BV358A, enables us to define the cilia-specific role of ARL13B in regulating energy homeostasis.

Ciliary ARL13B inhibits developmental kidney cystogenesis in mouse

ARL13B is a small GTPase enriched in cilia. Deletion of Arl13b in mouse kidney results in renal cysts and an associated absence of primary cilia. Similarly, ablation of cilia leads to kidney cysts. To investigate whether ARL13B functions from within cilia to direct kidney development, we examined kidneys of mice expressing an engineered cilia-excluded ARL13B variant, ARL13BV358A. These mice retained renal cilia and developed cystic kidneys. Because ARL13B functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for ARL3, we examined kidneys of mice expressing an ARL13B variant that lacks ARL3 GEF activity, ARL13BR79Q. We found normal kidney development with no evidence of cysts in these mice. Taken together, our results show that ARL13B functions within cilia to inhibit renal cystogenesis during mouse development, and that this function does not depend on its role as a GEF for ARL3.

Ciliary ARL13B inhibits developmental kidney cystogenesis in mouse

ARL13B is a small GTPase enriched in cilia. Deletion of Arl13b in mouse kidney results in renal cysts and an associated absence of primary cilia. Similarly, ablation of cilia leads to kidney cysts. To investigate whether ARL13B functions from within cilia to direct kidney development, we examined kidneys of mice expressing an engineered cilia-excluded ARL13B variant, ARL13BV358A. These mice retained renal cilia and developed cystic kidneys. Because ARL13B functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for ARL3, we examined kidneys of mice expressing an ARL13B variant that lacks ARL3 GEF activity, ARL13BR79Q. We found normal kidney development with no evidence of cysts in these mice. Taken together, our results show that ARL13B functions within cilia to inhibit renal cystogenesis during mouse development, and that this function does not depend on its role as a GEF for ARL3.

Unraveling the intricate cargo-BBSome coupling mechanism at the ciliary tip

Certain ciliary transmembrane and membrane-tethered signaling proteins migrate from the ciliary tip to base via retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT), essential for maintaining their ciliary dynamics to enable cells to sense and transduce extracellular stimuli inside the cell. During this process, the BBSome functions as an adaptor between retrograde IFT trains and these signaling protein cargoes. The Arf-like 13 (ARL13) small GTPase resembles ARL6/BBS3 in facilitating these signaling cargoes to couple with the BBSome at the ciliary tip prior to loading onto retrograde IFT trains for transporting towards the ciliary base, while the molecular basis for how this intricate coupling event happens remains elusive. Here, we report that Chlamydomonas ARL13 only in a GTP-bound form (ARL13GTP) anchors to the membrane for diffusing into cilia. Upon entering cilia, ARL13 undergoes GTPase cycle for shuttling between the ciliary membrane (ARL13GTP) and matrix (ARL13GDP). To achieve this goal, the ciliary membrane-anchored BBS3GTP binds the ciliary matrix-residing ARL13GDP to activate the latter as an ARL13 guanine nucleotide exchange factor. At the ciliary tip, ARL13GTP recruits the ciliary matrix-residing and post-remodeled BBSome as an ARL13 effector to anchor to the ciliary membrane. This makes the BBSome spatiotemporally become available for the ciliary membrane-tethered phospholipase D (PLD) to couple with. Afterward, ARL13GTP hydrolyzes GTP for releasing the PLD-laden BBSome to load onto retrograde IFT trains. According to this model, hedgehog signaling defects associated with ARL13b and BBS3 mutations in humans could be satisfactorily explained, providing us a mechanistic understanding behind BBSome-cargo coupling required for proper ciliary signaling.

Loss of ARL13 impedes BBSome-dependent cargo export from Chlamydomonas cilia

The GTPase Arl13b participates in ciliary protein transport, but its contribution to intraflagellar transport (IFT), the main motor-based protein shuttle of cilia, remains largely unknown. Chlamydomonas arl13 mutant cilia were characterized by both abnormal reduction and accumulation of select membrane-associated proteins. With respect to the latter, a similar set of proteins including phospholipase D (PLD) also accumulated in BBSome-deficient cilia. IFT and BBSome traffic were apparently normal in arl13. However, transport of PLD, which in control cells moves by BBSome-dependent IFT, was impaired in arl13, causing PLD to accumulate in cilia. ARL13 only rarely and transiently traveled by IFT, indicating that it is not a co-migrating adapter securing PLD to IFT trains. In conclusion, the loss of Chlamydomonas ARL13 impedes BBSome-dependent protein transport, resulting in overlapping biochemical defects in arl13 and bbs mutant cilia.

Insights Gained From Zebrafish Models for the Ciliopathy Joubert Syndrome

Cilia are quasi-ubiquitous microtubule-based sensory organelles, which play vital roles in signal transduction during development and cell homeostasis. Dysfunction of cilia leads to a group of Mendelian disorders called ciliopathies, divided into different diagnoses according to clinical phenotype constellation and genetic causes. Joubert syndrome (JBTS) is a prototypical ciliopathy defined by a diagnostic cerebellar and brain stem malformation termed the “Molar Tooth Sign” (MTS), in addition to which patients display variable combinations of typical ciliopathy phenotypes such as retinal dystrophy, fibrocystic renal disease, polydactyly or skeletal dystrophy. Like most ciliopathies, JBTS is genetically highly heterogeneous with ∼40 associated genes. Zebrafish are widely used to model ciliopathies given the high conservation of ciliary genes and the variety of specialized cilia types similar to humans. In this review, we compare different existing JBTS zebrafish models with each other and describe their contributions to our understanding of JBTS pathomechanism. We find that retinal dystrophy, which is the most investigated ciliopathy phenotype in zebrafish ciliopathy models, is caused by distinct mechanisms according to the affected gene. Beyond this, differences in phenotypes in other organs observed between different JBTS-mutant models suggest tissue-specific roles for proteins implicated in JBTS. Unfortunately, the lack of systematic assessment of ciliopathy phenotypes in the mutants described in the literature currently limits the conclusions that can be drawn from these comparisons. In the future, the numerous existing JBTS zebrafish models represent a valuable resource that can be leveraged in order to gain further insights into ciliary function, pathomechanisms underlying ciliopathy phenotypes and to develop treatment strategies using small molecules.

The Joubert-Meckel-Nephronophthisis Spectrum of Ciliopathies

The Joubert syndrome (JS), Meckel syndrome (MKS), and nephronophthisis (NPH) ciliopathy spectrum could be the poster child for advances and challenges in Mendelian human genetics over the past half century. Progress in understanding these conditions illustrates many core concepts of human genetics. The JS phenotype alone is caused by pathogenic variants in more than 40 genes; remarkably, all of the associated proteins function in and around the primary cilium. Primary cilia are near-ubiquitous, microtubule-based organelles that play crucial roles in development and homeostasis. Protruding from the cell, these cellular antennae sense diverse signals and mediate Hedgehog and other critical signaling pathways. Ciliary dysfunction causes many human conditions termed ciliopathies, which range from multiple congenital malformations to adult-onset single-organ failure. Research on the genetics of the JS-MKS-NPH spectrum has spurred extensive functional work exploring the broadly important role of primary cilia in health and disease. This functional work promises to illuminate the mechanisms underlying JS-MKS-NPH in humans, identify therapeutic targets across genetic causes, and generate future precision treatments. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, Volume 23 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.