Xueming Meng, Cong Xu, Jiawei Li, Benhua Qiu, Jiajun Luo, Qin Hong, Yujie Tong, Chuyu Fang, Yanyan Feng, Rui Ma, Xiangyi Shi, Cheng Lin, Chen Pan, Xueliang Zhu, Xiumin Yan, Yao Cong
Radial spokes (RS) transmit mechanochemical signals between the central pair (CP) and axonemal dynein arms to coordinate ciliary motility. Atomic-resolution structures of metazoan RS and structures of axonemal complexes in ependymal cilia, whose rhythmic beating drives the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, however, remain obscure. Here, we present near-atomic resolution cryo-EM structures of mouse RS head-neck complex in both monomer and dimer forms and reveal the intrinsic flexibility of the dimer. We also map the genetic mutations related to primary ciliary dyskinesia and asthenospermia on the head-neck complex...
January 8, 2024: Nature Communications