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Pkd2 Affects Cilia Length and Impacts LR Flow Dynamics and Dand5
Raquel Jacinto1, Pedro Sampaio1, Mónica Roxo-Rosa1
1CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|April 19, 2021
Summary
Polycystin-2 (Pkd2) reduction causes left-right asymmetry defects. This occurs not solely through mechanosensation, but also by affecting cilia length and cell shape, which alters flow dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The calcium-permeable channel Polycystin-2 (Pkd2) is crucial for left-right (LR) axis determination.
- The precise role of Pkd2 in the early LR symmetry breaking mechanism remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether Polycystin-2 (Pkd2) is the exclusive mediator of early left-right (LR) symmetry breaking.
- To differentiate the effects of Pkd2 reduction on LR symmetry from its impact on flow dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of homozygous curly-up (cup) mutants exhibiting abnormal flow dynamics.
- One-cell stage Pkd2 knockdown experiments.
- LR organizer-specific Pkd2 knockdown experiments.
Main Results:
- Homozygous curly-up (cup) mutants display abnormal flow dynamics.
- Both one-cell stage and LR organizer-specific Pkd2 knockdowns result in shorter cilia length.
- Pkd2 reduction leads to abnormal flow dynamics, independent of direct mechanosensation mediation.
Conclusions:
- Pkd2 reduction causes left-right (LR) defects.
- These defects are not solely attributable to Pkd2's role in mechanosensation.
- Altered cell shape and reduced cilia length due to Pkd2 deficit indirectly impact LR flow dynamics, contributing to asymmetry defects.
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