Visualization of changes in ciliary tip configuration caused by sliding displacement of microtubules in macrocilia of the ctenophore Beroe

Cilia Distal Domain: Diversity in Evolutionarily Conserved Structures

Eukaryotic cilia are microtubule-based organelles that protrude from the cell surface to fulfill sensory and motility functions. Their basic structure consists of an axoneme templated by a centriole/basal body. Striking differences in ciliary ultra-structures can be found at the ciliary base, the axoneme and the tip, not only throughout the eukaryotic tree of life, but within a single organism. Defects in cilia biogenesis and function are at the origin of human ciliopathies. This structural/functional diversity and its relationship with the etiology of these diseases is poorly understood. Some of the important events in cilia function occur at their distal domain, including cilia assembly/disassembly, IFT (intraflagellar transport) complexes' remodeling, and signal detection/transduction. How axonemal microtubules end at this domain varies with distinct cilia types, originating different tip architectures. Additionally, they show a high degree of dynamic behavior and are able to respond to different stimuli. The existence of microtubule-capping structures (caps) in certain types of cilia contributes to this diversity. It has been proposed that caps play a role in axoneme length control and stabilization, but their roles are still poorly understood. Here, we review the current knowledge on cilia structure diversity with a focus on the cilia distal domain and caps and discuss how they affect cilia structure and function.

Composition, structure and function of the eukaryotic flagellum distal tip

Cilia and flagella are long extensions commonly found on the surface of eukaryotic cells. In fact, most human cells have a flagellum, and failure to correctly form cilia leads to a spectrum of diseases gathered under the name ‘ciliopathies’. The cilium distal tip is where it grows and signals. Yet, out of the flagellar regions, the distal tip is probably the least intensively studied. In this review, we will summarise the current knowledge on the diverse flagellar tip structures, the dynamicity and signalling that occurs here and the proteins localising to this important cellular region.

Physiology and Evolution of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Early Diverging Animal Phyla: Cnidaria, Placozoa, Porifera and Ctenophora

Voltage-gated calcium (Ca_v) channels serve dual roles in the cell, where they can both depolarize the membrane potential for electrical excitability, and activate transient cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ signals. In animals, Ca_v channels play crucial roles including driving muscle contraction (excitation-contraction coupling), gene expression (excitation-transcription coupling), pre-synaptic and neuroendocrine exocytosis (excitation-secretion coupling), regulation of flagellar/ciliary beating, and regulation of cellular excitability, either directly or through modulation of other Ca²⁺-sensitive ion channels. In recent years, genome sequencing has provided significant insights into the molecular evolution of Ca_v channels. Furthermore, expanded gene datasets have permitted improved inference of the species phylogeny at the base of Metazoa, providing clearer insights into the evolution of complex animal traits which involve Ca_v channels, including the nervous system. For the various types of metazoan Ca_v channels, key properties that determine their cellular contribution include: Ion selectivity, pore gating, and, importantly, cytoplasmic protein-protein interactions that direct sub-cellular localization and functional complexing. It is unclear when these defining features, many of which are essential for nervous system function, evolved. In this review, we highlight some experimental observations that implicate Ca_v channels in the physiology and behavior of the most early-diverging animals from the phyla Cnidaria, Placozoa, Porifera, and Ctenophora. Given our limited understanding of the molecular biology of Ca_v channels in these basal animal lineages, we infer insights from better-studied vertebrate and invertebrate animals. We also highlight some apparently conserved cellular functions of Ca_v channels, which might have emerged very early on during metazoan evolution, or perhaps predated it.

The ciliary cytoskeleton

Cilia and flagella are surface-exposed, finger-like organelles whose core consists of a microtubule (MT)-based axoneme that grows from a modified centriole, the basal body. Cilia are found on the surface of many eukaryotic cells and play important roles in cell motility and in coordinating a variety of signaling pathways during growth, development, and tissue homeostasis. Defective cilia have been linked to a number of developmental disorders and diseases, collectively called ciliopathies. Cilia are dynamic organelles that assemble and disassemble in tight coordination with the cell cycle. In most cells, cilia are assembled during growth arrest in a multistep process involving interaction of vesicles with appendages present on the distal end of mature centrioles, and addition of tubulin and other building blocks to the distal tip of the basal body and growing axoneme; these building blocks are sorted through a region at the cilium base known as the ciliary necklace, and then transported via intraflagellar transport (IFT) along the axoneme toward the tip for assembly. After assembly, the cilium frequently continues to turn over and incorporate tubulin at its distal end in an IFT-dependent manner. Prior to cell division, the cilia are usually resorbed to liberate centrosomes for mitotic spindle pole formation. Here, we present an overview of the main cytoskeletal structures associated with cilia and centrioles with emphasis on the MT-associated appendages, fibers, and filaments at the cilium base and tip. The composition and possible functions of these structures are discussed in relation to cilia assembly, disassembly, and length regulation.

The flagella connector of Trypanosoma brucei: an unusual mobile transmembrane junction

Throughout its elongation, the new flagellum of the procyclic form of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei is tethered at its tip to the lateral aspect of the old flagellum. This phenomenon provides a cytotactic mechanism for influencing inheritance of cellular pattern. Here, we show that this tethering is produced via a discrete, mobile transmembrane junction - the flagella connector. Light and electron microscopy reveal that the flagella connector links the extending microtubules at the tip of the new flagellum to the lateral aspect of three of the doublet microtubules in the old flagellar axoneme. Two sets of filaments connect the microtubules to three plates on the inner faces of the old and new flagellar membranes. Three differentiated areas of old and new flagellar membranes are then juxtaposed and connected by a central interstitial core of electron-dense material. The flagella connector is formed early in flagellum extension and is removed at the end of cytokinesis, but the exact timing of the latter event is slightly variable. The flagella connector represents a novel form of cellular junction that is both dynamic and mobile.

Dynamic control of cell-cell adhesion and membrane-associated actin during food-induced mouth opening in Beroe

We used rhodamine-phalloidin and ultrastructural methods to follow dynamic changes in adhesive cell junctions and associated actin filaments during reversible epithelial adhesion in the mouth of the ctenophore Beroe. A cruising Beroe keeps its mouth closed by interdigitated actin-coated appositions between paired strips of cells lining the lips. The mouth opens rapidly (in 0.2-0.3 s) by muscular action to engulf prey (other ctenophores), then re-seals after ingestion. We found that the interlocking surface architecture of the adhesive cells, including the actin-coated junctions, rapidly disappears after food-induced opening of the mouth. In contrast, forcible separation of the lips in the absence of food rips the junctions, still intact, from the surfaces of the cells. The prey-stimulated loss of adhesive cell junctions and associated actin cytoskeleton is one of the most rapid changes in actin-based junctions yet observed. This system provides unique experimental advantages for investigating the dynamic control of reversible cell adhesions and membrane-associated actin filaments.

Actin pegs and ultrastructure of presumed sensory receptors of Beroë (Ctenophora)

We have investigated the actin content and ultrastructure of two kinds of presumed sensory projections on the lip epidermis of beroid ctenophores. Transmission electron microscopy showed that conical pegs contain a large bundle of densely packed, parallel microfilaments. Rhodamine-phalloidin brightly stained the pegs, confirming that they contain filamentous actin. Epidermal cells with actin pegs also bear a single long cilium with an onion-root structure, previously described as arising from a different type of cell. The actin peg and onion-root cilium project side-by-side, defining a polarized axis of the cell which is shared by neighboring cells. The onion-root body is surrounded by a flattened membrane sac which lies immediately below the plasma membrane. The perimeter of the membrane sac is encircled by aggregates of dense material. An extra layer of dense material is found along the side of the membrane sac facing the peg; this material often makes direct contact with the adjacent actin filament bundle. Cells with actin pegs and onion-root cilia synapse onto adjacent neurites and secretory gland cells, indicating that one or both types of projections are sensory elements. Since the feeding responses of beroids are reported to depend on chemical and tactile stimuli to the lips, the cells bearing pegs and cilia may function as both mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors, that is, as double sensory receptors.

Ca/Ba/Sr-induced conformational changes of ciliary axonemes

Macrocilia of the ctenophore Beroë undergo Ca/Ba/Sr-dependent activation of ciliary beating and microtubule sliding disintegration [Tamm, J. Comp. Physiol. A163:23-31, 1988a; Tamm, Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 11:126-138, 1988b; Tamm, Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 12:104-112, 1989; Tamm and Tamm, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86:6987-6991, 1989]. Here we report that detergent-extracted macrocilia show an ATP-independent conformational change in response to high concentrations of Ca, Ba, or Sr ions. When applied locally by iontophoresis, these ions induce a rapid planar curvature of the distal end of the macrociliary shaft, followed by a slower relaxation to the rest position. Tip curling occurs in a direction opposite to the physiological Ca/Ba/Sr response. When applied uniformly in the bath, a threshold concentration of 10(-1) M Sr is required to induce curling of the tip, and the distal ends remain curved. Calmodulin antagonists do not inhibit the tip curling response. Previous workers found that Ca induces changes in the helical shape of isolated doublet microtubules [Miki-Noumura and Kamiya, Exp. Cell Res. 97:451-453, 1976; Miki-Noumura and Kamiya, J. Cell Biol. 81:355-360, 1979; Takasaki and Miki-Noumura, J. Mol. Biol. 158:317-324, 1982] and sperm axonemes [Okuno and Brokaw, Cell Motil. 1:349-362, 1981] and suggested that conformational changes in microtubules may play a role in Ca regulation of ciliary motility. We propose that the Ca/Ba/Sr-induced curling of the macrociliary tip is due to similar helical changes of doublet microtubules, some of which in macrocilia are prevented from sliding by permanent connections (compartmenting lamellae) between adjacent axonemes within the shaft. Although the tip curling response does not appear to be directly relevant to the physiological Ca response of macrocilia, it provides a novel system for investigating Ca-induced conformational changes of microtubules independent of dynein-powered active sliding.

Calcium activation of macrocilia in the ctenophore Beroë

1. Macrocilia on the lips of the ctenophore Beroë are usually quiescent, but can be activated to beat rapidly and continuously by various stimuli. 2. During feeding, macrocilia beat actively and serve to spread the lips of Beroë over its prey. 3. Vigorous, repetitive mechanical stimulation of the lips evokes widespread activation of macrocilia via a pathway that is probably neural. 4. Extracellular electrical stimulation (DC or bipolar pulse-trains) elicits immediate activation of macrocilia on lip pieces, but not on dissociated cells. 5. Macrocilia on lip pieces are activated to beat by high KCl artificial sea water (ASW), but not by high KCl Ca-free ASW. Continuous beating for long periods is also elicited by high Ca ASW or Mg-free ASW, but not by Ca-Mg-free ASW. Addition of La, Cd, Co or Mn (10 mM) to high KCl ASW reversibly blocks activation. Verapamil, D-600, nifedipine, or BAY K 8644 (10 microM) has no effect on KC1-induced activation, but the anticalmodulin drug W-7 (10 microM) reversibly inhibits beating. 6. Mild heat treatment dissociates macrociliary cells from lip tissue. Such isolated macrociliary cells usually beat continuously in normal sea water, and swim in circular paths. Ca-free ASW, or addition of Co or Mn to ASW, inhibits beating of dissociated cells. High KCl ASW activates beating of quiescent, isolated macrociliary cells. 7. Ca-Mg-free ASW inhibits beating of dissociated macrociliary cells, and return to Mg-free ASW activates motility, allowing one to activate macrocilia on isolated cells simply by addition of Ca.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Iontophoretic localization of Ca-sensitive sites controlling activation of ciliary beating in macrocilia of Beroë: the ciliary rete

Macrocilia are thick compound ciliary organelles found on the lips of the ctenophore Beroë. Each macrocilium contains several hundred axonemes enclosed by a single common membrane around the shaft of the organelle. Macrocilia are activated to beat rapidly and continuously in the normal direction by stimulus-triggered Ca influx through voltage-dependent Ca channels (Tamm, 1988). Heat-dissociated macrociliary cells are spontaneously active without depolarizing stimuli, providing Ca is present (Tamm, 1988). Here we investigate the spatial distribution of macrociliary Ca channels by iontophoretic application of extracellular Ca to different sites along quiescent, "potentially activated" macrocilia of dissociated cells in Ca-free medium. We find that Ca sensitivity for eliciting motility is highest or resides exclusively on the basal portion of the macrociliary surface. This is the first demonstration of local differences in Ca sensitivity along living cilia or flagella. The Ca-sensitive region coincides morphologically with a reticulum of unfused ciliary membranes at the base of the macrocilium. This ciliary rete is in direct communication with the surrounding sea water. It is likely that the ciliary rete provides the necessary Ca influx to trigger beating by virtue of its greater Ca conductance (i.e., density of Ca channels) and/or greater total membrane area.

Massive actin bundle couples macrocilia to muscles in the ctenophore Beroë

Macrocilia are thick compound ciliary organelles arising individually from elongated epithelial cells on the lips of beroid ctenophores. A giant wedge-shaped bundle of microfilaments extends 25-30 microns from the base of each macrocilium to the lower end of the cell, terminating at a junction with an underlying smooth muscle cell. The broad end of the microfilament bundle is anchored to the macrocilium by striated rootlet fibers that extend from the basal bodies into the bundle and are linked to the microfilaments by periodic bridges. Fluorescence microscopy of rhodamine-phalloidin stained intact tissue, dissociated macrociliary cells, and Triton/glycerol-isolated bundles shows that the microfilaments contain actin. The microfilaments run generally parallel to the long axis of the bundle but are not highly ordered. Filaments decorated with myosin S1 show a uniform polarity with arrowheads pointing away from the tapered membrane-associated end of the bundle. No variations in bundle length (nor changes in rootlet periodicity) were observed in tissue fixed under conditions of calcium activation. Isolated bundles did not contract in Mg-ATP, even though detached macrocilia underwent reactivated beating and sliding disintegration. Macrocilia are used to bite through food organisms or transport prey into the stomach. The actin filament bundles probably play a supporting role as a structural linker between macrocilia and subepithelial muscle fibers and may serve as intracellular tendons to mechanically coordinate the motor activities of macrocilia and muscles during prey ingestion.