Anneke Sanders, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

“Worms That Smell: The Formation and Maintenance of the Ciliary Axoneme in the Small Roundworm Caenorhabditis Elegans”

Wednesday, November 13, 2019 12:20–1:10 pm

Science Center, Room 303

Abstract: In order to survive and thrive, cells need to be aware of their environment and be able to communicate with other cells. To sense the environment and cues from other cells, an organelle evolved that concentrates signaling receptors, called the primary cilium. I use the small roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, which possesses many conserved ciliary genes. The cilium is formed around the axoneme, a core of microtubules (MT). MTs are hollow, polymeric tubes that serve many crucial functions in cells. In cilia, MTs act as ‘highways’ for the active transport mechanism called intraflaggelar transport (IFT) that imports and exports ciliary proteins. To support ciliary structure and function, the axoneme must be highly stable. In C. elegans, the basal body from which the axoneme extends is degraded shortly after ciliogenesis (cilium formation), exposing the MT minus ends of the axoneme. Without protection, the minus ends are likely to be subject to depolymerization, resulting in loss of the cilium. Thus, there must be mechanisms in place that protect the exposed axonemal MT minus ends. The mechanisms that protect the axoneme are not fully understood. One possibility is that the MT-severing and -stabilizing katanin complex and katanin interacting protein KATNIP protect axonemal MTs. My research will focus on the role of katanin and katanin-associated proteins in cilium function, and ciliogenesis and cilium elongation.

Interestingly, through expression studies I found that katanin subunits and KATNIP that support cilium structure and function are also expressed in one ring of intestinal cells of adult worms. These cells are highly polarized, supported by the MT network. This polarization is required for their function in nutrient absorption. My lab will investigate the role of katanin and KATNIP in MT network organization and maintenance in polarized intestinal cells.

In summary, my lab will investigate the functions of katanin and KATNIP in multiple differentiated cell types in the worm. This work will lead to greater insight in cilium

Division of Biology

Faculty Candidate Research Talk