Ciliary Motility: Regulation of Axonemal Dynein Motors

Abstract

Ciliary motility is crucial for the development and health of many organisms. Motility depends on the coordinated activity of multiple dynein motors arranged in a precise pattern on the outer doublet microtubules. Although significant progress has been made in elucidating the composition and organization of the dyneins, a comprehensive understanding of dynein regulation is lacking. Here, we focus on two conserved signaling complexes located at the base of the radial spokes. These include the I1/f inner dynein arm associated with radial spoke 1 and the calmodulin- and spoke-associated complex and the nexin–dynein regulatory complex associated with radial spoke 2. Current research is focused on understanding how these two axonemal hubs coordinate and regulate the dynein motors and ciliary motility.