Important clue to understanding the pathogenesis of ciliary disorders
Scientists led by Dr. Heiko Lickert, research group leader at the Institute of Stem Cell Research of Helmholtz Zentrum München, have identified the first gene shown to regulate cilia disassembly in a living organism. If the gene is defective, double and forked cilia develop – thus the name Pitchfork. The consequences of the mutation include typical defects in the left-right asymmetry of body organs and heart failure.
The functional investigations were conducted primarily on the mouse model, together with the Institute of Developmental Genetics and the Department of Protein Analytics of Helmholtz Zentrum München. However, Dr. Lickert and his collaboration partner Nicolas Katsanis of Duke University in the U.S. were also able to show mutations in the Pitchfork gene in patients with ciliary diseases. In humans, the substitution of merely one amino acid in the Pitchfork protein can lead to an inversed position of all internal organs (situs inversus), to kidney and liver diseases, but also to severe heart defects. "Our study" Dr. Lickert said, "provides a new entry point to understand and categorize ciliary disease."
Original publication: Kinzel D. et al.; "Pitchfork regulates primary cilia disassembly and left-right asymmetry"; Developmental Cell 2010
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