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The invertebrate microtubule-associated protein PTL-1 functions in mechanosensation and development in Caenorhabditis elegans

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Abstract

PTL-1, a microtubule-associated protein of the structural MAP2/tau family, is the sole member of this gene family in Caenorhabditis elegans. Sequence analysis of available invertebrate genomes revealed a number of single, putative tau-like genes with high similarity to ptl-1. The ptl-1 gene is expressed in a number of cells, most notably mechanosensory neurons. We examined the role of ptl-1 in C. elegans in adult neurons as well as during development. A ptl-1 knockout strain of worms exhibited an egg-hatching defect, as well as a reduced sensitivity to touch stimuli. In addition, the knockout allele ptl-1(ok621) acts as a dominant enhancer of several temperature-sensitive alleles of mec-7 and mec-12, which code the isoforms of β-tubulin and α-tubulin that together form the unusual 15 protofilament microtubules involved in touch sensation. These results demonstrate for the first time a functional role for this microtubule-associated protein in nematodes and suggest that PTL-1 is involved in mechanosensation as well as some aspect of embryogenesis.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by internal grant awards from the Dean of the Faculty Research Fund, the Abbey Fund and an NIH-AREA award 1R15NS057808-01(to K.M.R.-S.).

We would like to thank Cristian Opazo, Richard Wing, Amory Meltzer, Tasnim Rahman and Charlene Scotland for helpful assistance and Jerry Calvin for assistance with the confocal microscope. We would also like to thank Martin Chalfie for helpful discussions. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Michele Buddle (1962–2004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12604, USA

    Patricia Gordon, Lee Hingula, Michelle L. Krasny, Jessica L. Swienckowski, Nancy J. Pokrywka & Kathleen M. Raley-Susman

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  1. Patricia Gordon
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  2. Lee Hingula
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  3. Michelle L. Krasny
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  4. Jessica L. Swienckowski
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  5. Nancy J. Pokrywka
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  6. Kathleen M. Raley-Susman
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Correspondence to Kathleen M. Raley-Susman.

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Communicated by C. Desplan

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Gordon, P., Hingula, L., Krasny, M.L. et al. The invertebrate microtubule-associated protein PTL-1 functions in mechanosensation and development in Caenorhabditis elegans . Dev Genes Evol 218, 541–551 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-008-0250-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-008-0250-z

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