Nezha/CAMSAP3 and CAMSAP2 cooperate in epithelial-specific organization of noncentrosomal microtubules

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Dec 4;109(49):20029-34. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1218017109. Epub 2012 Nov 19.

Abstract

Major microtubules in epithelial cells are not anchored to the centrosome, in contrast to the centrosomal radiation of microtubules in other cell types. It remains to be discovered how these epithelial microtubules are generated and stabilized at noncentrosomal sites. Here, we found that Nezha [also known as calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated protein 3 (CAMSAP3)] and its related protein, CAMSAP2, cooperate in organization of noncentrosomal microtubules. These two CAMSAP molecules coclustered at the minus ends of noncentrosomal microtubules and thereby stabilized them. Depletion of CAMSAPs caused a marked reduction of microtubules with polymerizing plus ends, concomitantly inducing the growth of microtubules from the centrosome. In CAMSAP-depleted cells, early endosomes and the Golgi apparatus exhibited irregular distributions. These effects of CAMSAP depletion were maximized when both CAMSAPs were removed. These findings suggest that CAMSAP2 and -3 work together to maintain noncentrosomal microtubules, suppressing the microtubule-organizing ability of the centrosome, and that the network of CAMSAP-anchored microtubules is important for proper organelle assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Centrosome / metabolism*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Time-Lapse Imaging

Substances

  • Camsap2 protein, mouse
  • Camsap3 protein, mouse
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins