Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 14, 2025
09:53
Volumetric Imaging and Analysis of Primary Cilia in Musculoskeletal Tissue using the ARL13B-CENTRIN-2 Mouse Model
Published on: March 28, 2025
585
Knocking out ARL13B completely abolishes primary ciliogenesis in cell lines
Divyanshu Mahajan1, Hui Min Chia1, Lei Lu2
1School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore.
Scientific Reports
|July 24, 2025
Summary
ARL13B is vital for cilia development and function. Our study shows ARL13B knockout cells completely lose cilia, impacting hedgehog signaling, highlighting its critical role in cell biology.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The small G protein ARL13B is known to localize to cilia.
- ARL13B is implicated in essential ciliary functions including biogenesis, organization, trafficking, and signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ARL13B in ciliogenesis and ciliary function.
- To establish and characterize ARL13B knockout cell lines.
Main Methods:
- CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing was employed to generate ARL13B knockout cell lines.
- Phenotypic analysis of cilia in knockout cells.
- Assessment of hedgehog signaling pathway activation.
Main Results:
- ARL13B knockout cell lines exhibited a complete loss of cilia, contrary to previously reported partial defects.
- Multiple ARL13B regions were found to be necessary for complete functional rescue.
- ARL13B knockout cells demonstrated a loss of response to SMO-mediated hedgehog stimulation.
Conclusions:
- ARL13B is critically required for ciliogenesis and hedgehog signaling in cultured cells.
- ARL13B plays a more significant role in ciliary function than previously understood.
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