The GTPase IFT27 is involved in both anterograde andretrograde intraflagellar transport

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Abstract

The construction of cilia and flagella depends on intraflagellar transport (IFT), a bidirectional movement of two protein complexes (IFT-A and IFT-B) driven by specific kinesin and dynein motors. IFT-B and kinesin are associated to anterograde transport whereas IFT-A and dynein participate to retrograde transport. Surprisingly, the small GTPase IFT27, a member of the IFT-B complex, turns out to be essential for retrograde cargo transport in Trypanosoma brucei. We reveal that this is due to failure to import both the IFT-A complex and the IFT dynein into the flagellar compartment. To get further molecular insight about the role of IFT27, GDP- or GTP-locked versions were expressed in presence or absence of endogenous IFT27. The GDP-locked version is unable to enter the flagellum and to interact with other IFT-B proteins and its sole expression prevents flagellum formation. These findings demonstrate that a GTPase-competent IFT27 is required for association to the IFT complex and that IFT27 plays a role in the cargo loading of the retrograde transport machinery.

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Diego Huet

Institut Pasteur & CNRS, Paris, France

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Thierry Blisnick

Institut Pasteur & CNRS, Paris, France

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Sylvie Perrot

Institut Pasteur & CNRS, Paris, France

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Philippe Bastin

Institut Pasteur & CNRS, Paris, France

For correspondence
pbastin@pasteur.fr

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

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