A conditional null allele of Dync1h1 enables targeted analyses of dynein roles in neuronal
length sensing.
J Cell Sci 2022;
136:277214. [PMID:
36218033 PMCID:
PMC9687604 DOI:
10.1242/jcs.260220]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Size homeostasis is fundamental in biology and is particularly important for large cells such as neurons. We previously proposed a motor-dependent length-sensing mechanism wherein reductions in microtubule motor levels should accelerate neuronal growth, and validated this prediction in dynein heavy chain 1 Loa mutant (Dync1h1Loa) sensory neurons. Here we describe a new mouse model with a conditional deletion allele of exons 24-25 in Dync1h1. Homozygous Islet1-Cre deletion of Dync1h1 is embryonic lethal, but heterozygous animals (Isl1-Dync1h1+/-) survive to adulthood with approximately 50% dynein expression in targeted cells. Isl1-Dync1h1+/- sensory neurons reveal accelerated growth, as previously reported in Dync1h1Loa neurons. Moreover, Isl1-Dync1h1+/- mice show mild impairments in gait, proprioception and tactile sensation similar to Dync1h1Loa mice, confirming that specific aspects of the Loa phenotype are due to reduced dynein levels. Isl1-Dync1h1+/- mice also show delayed recovery from peripheral nerve injury, likely due to reduced injury signal delivery from axonal lesion sites. Thus, conditional deletion of Dync1h1 exons 24-25 enables targeted studies of the role of dynein in neuronal growth.
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