osm-5p- driven fluorophores are differentially expressed in ccpp-1Δ and nekl-4Δ mutant ciliated neurons

TL;DR

This study shows that the expression of a key ciliary protein, OSM-5, is affected in specific mutant worms, suggesting new regulatory mechanisms.

Contribution

The study reveals that OSM-5 expression levels may be regulated by ccpp-1 and nekl-4, introducing new regulatory pathways in ciliary biology.

Findings

OSM-5-driven fluorophores show altered brightness in ccpp-1Δ and nekl-4Δ mutants.

This suggests that ccpp-1 and nekl-4 may regulate osm-5 expression in ciliated neurons.

The osm-5 promoter is commonly used for expressing constructs in ciliated neurons.

Abstract

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) involves the coordinated transport of molecular motors and other proteins and is required for ciliogenesis and ciliary maintenance. The
C. elegans
IFT protein
OSM-5
/IFT88 is expressed in a majority of the ciliated neurons in the animal, and

osm-5

mutants exhibit structurally defective cilia. The

osm-5

promoter is commonly used to express genetic constructs in the ciliated neurons. In this study, we show that brightness of
osm-5p-
driven constructs is altered in mutants of the tubulin deglutamylase

ccpp-1

and the NIMA-related kinase

nekl-4

. This raises the possibility that

osm-5

expression levels may be regulated by

ccpp-1

and

nekl-4

.

Figures