Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
10 p.
Publication Date
2-2010
Publisher
Wiley
Source Publication
Cytoskeleton
Source ISSN
1949-3584
Abstract
Axonemal complexes in flagella are largely prepackaged in the cell body. As such, one mutation often results in the absence of the co-assembled components and permanent motility deficiencies. For example, a Chlamydomonas mutant defective in RSP4 in the radial spoke (RS), which is critical for bend propagation, has paralyzed flagella that also lack the paralogue RSP6 and three additional RS proteins. Intriguingly, recent studies showed that several mutant strains contain a mixed population of swimmers and paralyzed cells despite their identical genetic background. Here we report a cause underlying these variations. Two new mutants lacking RSP6 swim processively and other components appear normally assembled in early log phase indicating that, unlike RSP4, this paralogue is dispensable. However, swimmers cannot maintain the typical helical trajectory and reactivated cell models tend to spin. Interestingly the motile fraction and the spokehead content dwindle during stationary phase. These results suggest that (1) intact RS is critical for maintaining the rhythm of oscillatory beating and thus the helical trajectory; (2) assembly of the axonemal complex with subtle defects is less efficient and the inefficiency is accentuated in compromised conditions, leading to reversible dyskinesia. Consistently, several organisms only possess one RSP4/6 gene. Gene duplication in Chlamydomonas enhances RS assembly to maintain optimal motility in various environments.
Recommended Citation
Wei, Mei; Sivadas, Priyanka; Owen, Heather A.; Mitchell, David R.; and Yang, Pinfen, "Chlamydomonas mutants display reversible deficiencies in flagellar beating and axonemal assembly" (2010). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 287.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/287
Comments
Accepted version. Cytoskeleton, Vol. 67, No. 2 (February 2010): 71-80. DOI. © 2010 Wiley. Used with permission.
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Cytoskeleton, Vol. 67, No. 2 (February 2010): 71-80, which has been published in final form at here. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.