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Analysis of Gene Function and Visualization of Cilia-Generated Fluid Flow in Kupffer's Vesicle
Published on: March 31, 2013
The Cdc14B phosphatase contributes to ciliogenesis in zebrafish
Aurélie Clément1, Lilianna Solnica-Krezel, Kathleen L Gould
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|December 24, 2010
Summary
Zebrafish Cdc14B phosphatase is crucial for proper cilia development and function. Loss of Cdc14B impairs cilia length, leading to developmental defects and highlighting a new role in vertebrate development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cell cycle progression depends on cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) activity.
- Vertebrate CDC14 phosphatases, CDC14A and CDC14B, are involved in cell cycle regulation but their roles in interphase re-setting are unclear.
- Cdc14 family phosphatases counteract Cdk1 phosphorylation for mitotic exit and cytokinesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of CDC14B in vertebrate development.
- To elucidate the role of Cdc14B in cell cycle control and ciliogenesis.
- To understand the phosphatase activity requirement for Cdc14B in these processes.
Main Methods:
- Cloning of zebrafish cdc14b gene.
- Inhibition of cdc14b function using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides and insertional mutagenesis.
- Phenotypic analysis of cdc14b-deficient zebrafish embryos, including assessment of cilia length.
Main Results:
- Loss of Cdc14B function resulted in developmental abnormalities such as hydrocephaly, curved body, kidney cysts, and left-right asymmetry defects.
- Cilia, both motile and primary, were found to be shorter in cdc14b-deficient embryos.
- Cdc14B's role in ciliogenesis was dependent on its phosphatase activity and separable from its cell cycle control functions.
- Cdc14B regulates cilia length independently of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway.
Conclusions:
- Cdc14B plays a significant role in vertebrate ciliogenesis.
- Cdc14B's function in cilia length regulation is independent of its cell cycle roles.
- This study reveals a novel function for Cdc14B in regulating developmental processes through its involvement in ciliogenesis.
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