A novel protein LZTFL1 regulates ciliary trafficking of the BBSome and Smoothened

PLoS Genet. 2011 Nov;7(11):e1002358. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002358. Epub 2011 Nov 3.

Abstract

Many signaling proteins including G protein-coupled receptors localize to primary cilia, regulating cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, organogenesis, and tumorigenesis. Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) proteins are involved in maintaining ciliary function by mediating protein trafficking to the cilia. However, the mechanisms governing ciliary trafficking by BBS proteins are not well understood. Here, we show that a novel protein, Leucine-zipper transcription factor-like 1 (LZTFL1), interacts with a BBS protein complex known as the BBSome and regulates ciliary trafficking of this complex. We also show that all BBSome subunits and BBS3 (also known as ARL6) are required for BBSome ciliary entry and that reduction of LZTFL1 restores BBSome trafficking to cilia in BBS3 and BBS5 depleted cells. Finally, we found that BBS proteins and LZTFL1 regulate ciliary trafficking of hedgehog signal transducer, Smoothened. Our findings suggest that LZTFL1 is an important regulator of BBSome ciliary trafficking and hedgehog signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bardet-Biedl Syndrome / genetics
  • Bardet-Biedl Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Cilia / genetics
  • Cilia / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Smoothened Receptor
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • BBS4 protein, mouse
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • LZTFL1 protein, human
  • Lztfl1 protein, mouse
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • SMO protein, human
  • Smoothened Receptor
  • Transcription Factors