Establishing and regulating the composition of cilia for signal transduction

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2019 Jul;20(7):389-405. doi: 10.1038/s41580-019-0116-4.

Abstract

The primary cilium is a hair-like surface-exposed organelle of the eukaryotic cell that decodes a variety of signals - such as odorants, light and Hedgehog morphogens - by altering the local concentrations and activities of signalling proteins. Signalling within the cilium is conveyed through a diverse array of second messengers, including conventional signalling molecules (such as cAMP) and some unusual intermediates (such as sterols). Diffusion barriers at the ciliary base establish the unique composition of this signalling compartment, and cilia adapt their proteome to signalling demands through regulated protein trafficking. Much progress has been made on the molecular understanding of regulated ciliary trafficking, which encompasses not only exchanges between the cilium and the rest of the cell but also the shedding of signalling factors into extracellular vesicles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement / physiology*
  • Cilia / genetics
  • Cilia / metabolism*
  • Cyclic AMP / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Protein Transport / physiology
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Proteome / metabolism*
  • Second Messenger Systems / physiology*

Substances

  • Proteome
  • Cyclic AMP