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Evolution of modular intraflagellar transport from a coatomer-like progenitor

Teunis J P van Dam1, Matthew J Townsend, Martin Turk

  • 1Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|April 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The intraflagellar transport (IFT) complex, crucial for cilia, likely evolved from vesicle coats. Its subcomplexes, particularly the BBSome, show modularity and a "last-in, first-out" evolutionary pattern.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The intraflagellar transport (IFT) complex is essential for cilium function in eukaryotic cells.
  • IFT dysfunction leads to ciliopathies, a group of human diseases.
  • IFT complexes are hypothesized to share ancestry with vesicle coat proteins like COPI, COPII, and clathrin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide phylogenetic evidence for the common ancestry of IFT subunits and COPI subunits.
  • To trace the evolutionary origins of IFT-A, IFT-B, and the BBSome.
  • To understand the evolutionary dynamics and modularity of the IFT system.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic analysis of IFT and COPI protein sequences.
  • Comparative genomics across eukaryotic taxa.
  • Tracing the evolutionary history and distribution of IFT subcomplexes.

Main Results:

  • Phylogenetic evidence supports a common origin for IFT subunits and COPI subunits.
  • IFT-A and the BBSome likely evolved from an IFT-B-like precursor through gene duplication.
  • The BBSome is a modular component of IFT, frequently lost during evolution, often preceding complete cilium loss.

Conclusions:

  • The IFT complex originated from protocoatomers, supporting its role in vesicle transport.
  • The IFT system exhibits modularity, with subcomplexes like the BBSome being independently gained or lost.
  • The BBSome's late origin and frequent loss suggest an "last-in, first-out" evolutionary model for the IFT complex.

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