Biomedical subjects

Jinghua Hu

Publications and source records attributed to Jinghua Hu.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

General and cell-type specific mechanisms target TRPP2/PKD-2 to cilia.

Ciliary localization of the transient receptor potential polycystin 2 channel (TRPP2/PKD-2) is evolutionarily conserved, but how TRPP2 is targeted to cilia is not known. In this study, we characterize the motility and localization of PKD-2, a TRPP2 homolog, in C. elegans sensory neurons. We demonstrate that GFP-tagged PKD-2 moves bidirectionally in the dendritic compartment. Furthermore, we show a requirement for different molecules in regulating the ciliary localization of PKD-2. PKD-2 is directed to moving dendritic particles by the UNC-101/adaptor protein 1 (AP-1) complex. When expressed in non-native neurons, PKD-2 remains in cell bodies and is not observed in dendrites or cilia, indicating that cell-type specific factors are required for directing PKD-2 to the dendrite. PKD-2 stabilization in cilia and cell bodies requires LOV-1, a functional partner and a TRPP1 homolog. In lov-1 mutants, PKD-2 is greatly reduced in cilia and forms abnormal aggregates in neuronal cell bodies. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is not essential for PKD-2 dendritic motility or access to the cilium, but may regulate PKD-2 ciliary abundance. We propose that both general and cell-type-specific factors govern TRPP2/PKD-2 subcellular distribution by forming at least two steps involving somatodendritic and ciliary sorting decisions.

Adaptor Protein Complex 1↗

PubMed2006

Casein kinase II and calcineurin modulate TRPP function and ciliary localization.

Cilia serve as sensory devices in a diversity of organisms and their defects contribute to many human diseases. In primary cilia of kidney cells, the transient receptor potential polycystin (TRPP) channels polycystin-1 (PC-1) and polycystin-2 (PC-2) act as a mechanosensitive channel, with defects resulting in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. In sensory cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans male-specific neurons, the TRPPs LOV-1 and PKD-2 are required for mating behavior. The mechanisms regulating TRPP ciliary localization and function are largely unknown. We identified the regulatory subunit of the serine-threonine casein kinase II (CK2) as a binding partner of LOV-1 and human PC-1. CK2 and the calcineurin phosphatase TAX-6 modulate male mating behavior and PKD-2 ciliary localization. The phospho-defective mutant PKD-2(S534A) localizes to cilia, whereas a phospho-mimetic PKD-2(S534D) mutant is largely absent from cilia. Calcineurin is required for PKD-2 ciliary localization, but is not essential for ciliary gene expression, ciliogenesis, or localization of cilium structural components. This unanticipated function of calcineurin may be important for regulating ciliary protein localization. A dynamic phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle may represent a mechanism for modulating TRPP activity, cellular sensation, and ciliary protein localization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

ATP-2 interacts with the PLAT domain of LOV-1 and is involved in Caenorhabditis elegans polycystin signaling.

Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful model to study the molecular basis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). ADPKD is caused by mutations in the polycystic kidney disease (PKD)1 or PKD2 gene, encoding polycystin (PC)-1 or PC-2, respectively. The C. elegans polycystins LOV-1 and PKD-2 are required for male mating behaviors and are localized to sensory cilia. The function of the evolutionarily conserved polycystin/lipoxygenase/alpha-toxin (PLAT) domain found in all PC-1 family members remains an enigma. Here, we report that ATP-2, the beta subunit of the ATP synthase, physically associates with the LOV-1 PLAT domain and that this interaction is evolutionarily conserved. In addition to the expected mitochondria localization, ATP-2 and other ATP synthase components colocalize with LOV-1 and PKD-2 in cilia. Disrupting the function of the ATP synthase or overexpression of atp-2 results in a male mating behavior defect. We further show that atp-2, lov-1, and pkd-2 act in the same molecular pathway. We propose that the ciliary localized ATP synthase may play a previously unsuspected role in polycystin signaling.

Animals↗