Cell type-specific structural plasticity of the ciliary transition zone in C. elegans

Abstract

Background informationThe current consensus on cilia development posits that the ciliary transition zone (TZ) is formed via extension of nine centrosomal microtubules. In this model, TZ structure remains unchanged in microtubule number throughout the cilium life cycle. This model does not however explain structural variations of TZ structure seen in nature, and could also lend itself to the misinterpretation that deviations from nine-doublet microtubule ultrastructure represent an abnormal phenotype. Thus, a better understanding of events that occur at the TZ in vivo during metazoan development is required.\n\nResultsTo address this issue, we characterized ultrastructure of two types of sensory cilia in developing Caenorhabditis elegans. We discovered that, in cephalic male (CEM) and inner labial quadrant (IL2Q) sensory neurons, ciliary TZs are structurally plastic and remodel from one structure to another during animal larval development. The number of microtubules doublets forming the TZ can be increased or decreased over time, depending on cilia type. Both cases result in structural TZ intermediates different from TZ in adult cilia. In CEM cilia, axonemal extension and maturation occurs concurrently with TZ structural maturation.\n\nConclusions and SignificanceOur work extends the current model to include the structural plasticity of metazoan transition zone, which can be structurally delayed, maintained or remodeled in cell type-specific manner.