Grant: Project Grant

Cilia biogenesis and motility are critical aspects of cellular function and life. The cilium is an organelle playing essential roles in cellular motility such as sperm movement and mucus clearance in the respiratory tract. The cilium consists of a bundle of microtubule filaments, which are assembled and elongated at the tip. Defects in the ciliary tip region lead to abnormal growth and motility, and consequently cilia-related diseases including chronic respiratory infection, sperm immotility, internal organ transposition and intellectual disability. Here, the proposed research uses an integrated structural approach to elucidate the role of the ciliary tip in ciliary motility and biogenesis. Owing to the striking evolutionary conservation across species, this fundamental research will have a transformative impact across basic biological sciences and health applications.