Male germ cell-associated kinase (MAK) is required for axoneme formation during ciliogenesis in zebrafish photoreceptors.
Hung-Ju ChiangYuko NishiwakiWei-Chieh Jerry ChiangIchiro MasaiPublished in: Disease models & mechanisms (2024)
Vertebrate photoreceptors are highly specialized retinal neurons that have cilium-derived membrane organelles called outer segments (OS), which function as platforms for phototransduction. Male germ cell-associated kinase (MAK) is a cilium-associated serine/threonine kinase, and its genetic mutation causes photoreceptor degeneration in mice and retinitis pigmentosa in humans. However, the role of MAK in photoreceptors is not fully understood. Here, we report that zebrafish mak mutants show rapid photoreceptor degeneration during embryonic development. In mak mutants, both cone and rod photoreceptors completely lack OSs and undergo apoptosis. Interestingly, zebrafish mak mutants fail to generate axonemes during photoreceptor ciliogenesis, whereas basal bodies are specified. These data suggest that MAK contributes to axoneme development in zebrafish, in contrast to mouse Mak mutants, which have elongated photoreceptor axonemes. Furthermore, the kinase activity of MAK is critical in ciliary axoneme development and photoreceptor survival. Thus, MAK is required for ciliogenesis and OS formation in zebrafish photoreceptors to ensure intracellular protein transport and photoreceptor survival.
Keyphrases
- germ cell
- protein kinase
- magnetic resonance
- oxidative stress
- palliative care
- magnetic resonance imaging
- type diabetes
- cell death
- electronic health record
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- adipose tissue
- spinal cord injury
- signaling pathway
- optical coherence tomography
- reactive oxygen species
- quantum dots
- pi k akt
- sensitive detection