A dynein-associated photoreceptor protein prevents ciliary acclimation to blue light.

Kutomi, Osamu; Yamamoto, Ryosuke; Hirose, Keiko; Mizuno, Katsutoshi; Nakagiri, Yuuhei; Imai, Hiroshi; Noga, Akira; Obbineni, Jagan Mohan et al. · Sci Adv · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Light-responsive regulation of ciliary motility is known to be conducted through modulation of dyneins, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we report a novel subunit of the two-headed f/I1 inner arm dynein, named DYBLUP, in animal spermatozoa and a unicellular green alga. This subunit contains a BLUF (sensors of blue light using FAD) domain that appears to directly modulate dynein activity in response to light. DYBLUP (dynein-associated BLUF protein) mediates the connection between the f/I1 motor domain and the tether complex that links the motor to the doublet microtubule. <i>Chlamydomonas</i> lacking the DYBLUP ortholog shows both positive and negative phototaxis but becomes acclimated and attracted to high-intensity blue light. These results suggest a mechanism to avoid toxic strong light via direct photoregulation of dyneins.