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Ciliopathy proteins regulate paracrine signaling by modulating proteasomal degradation of mediators
Yangfan P. Liu, I-Chun Tsai, Manuela Morleo, Edwin C. Oh, Carmen C. Leitch, Filomena Massa, Byung-Hoon Lee, David S. Parker, Daniel Finley, Norann A. Zaghloul, Brunella Franco, Nicholas Katsanis
Yangfan P. Liu, I-Chun Tsai, Manuela Morleo, Edwin C. Oh, Carmen C. Leitch, Filomena Massa, Byung-Hoon Lee, David S. Parker, Daniel Finley, Norann A. Zaghloul, Brunella Franco, Nicholas Katsanis
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Research Article Cell biology

Ciliopathy proteins regulate paracrine signaling by modulating proteasomal degradation of mediators

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Abstract

Cilia are critical mediators of paracrine signaling; however, it is unknown whether proteins that contribute to ciliopathies converge on multiple paracrine pathways through a common mechanism. Here, we show that loss of cilopathy-associated proteins Bardet-Biedl syndrome 4 (BBS4) or oral-facial-digital syndrome 1 (OFD1) results in the accumulation of signaling mediators normally targeted for proteasomal degradation. In WT cells, several BBS proteins and OFD1 interacted with proteasomal subunits, and loss of either BBS4 or OFD1 led to depletion of multiple subunits from the centrosomal proteasome. Furthermore, overexpression of proteasomal regulatory components or treatment with proteasomal activators sulforaphane (SFN) and mevalonolactone (MVA) ameliorated signaling defects in cells lacking BBS1, BBS4, and OFD1, in morphant zebrafish embryos, and in induced neurons from Ofd1-deficient mice. Finally, we tested the hypothesis that other proteasome-dependent pathways not known to be associated with ciliopathies are defective in the absence of ciliopathy proteins. We found that loss of BBS1, BBS4, or OFD1 led to decreased NF-κB activity and concomitant IκBβ accumulation and that these defects were ameliorated with SFN treatment. Taken together, our data indicate that basal body proteasomal regulation governs paracrine signaling pathways and suggest that augmenting proteasomal function might benefit ciliopathy patients.

Authors

Yangfan P. Liu, I-Chun Tsai, Manuela Morleo, Edwin C. Oh, Carmen C. Leitch, Filomena Massa, Byung-Hoon Lee, David S. Parker, Daniel Finley, Norann A. Zaghloul, Brunella Franco, Nicholas Katsanis

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Figure 2

Accumulation of Shh and Notch signaling mediators upon depletion of ciliopathy proteins.

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Accumulation of Shh and Notch signaling mediators upon depletion of cili...
(A) Accumulation of GLI2FL, GLI3FL, and SUFU as well as reduction of GLI3R in T8-derived Ofd1KO neurons. (B) At E10.5, accumulation of GLI2FL, GLI3FL, and SUFU as well as reduction of GLI3R were detected in protein lysates from Ofd1Δ4–5/y mice, with Ofd1+/y mice used as controls. (C) Suppression of BBS4 increases Flag-tagged NICD levels compared with those in pSuper controls. (D) Suppression of BBS4 led to a 2-fold increase in GFP-tagged JAG1. The samples in each panel in B and C were run on the same gel but were noncontiguous. Bar graphs showing the SEM are plotted adjacent to each blot. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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