dTULP, the Drosophila melanogaster Homolog of Tubby, Regulates Transient Receptor Potential Channel Localization in Cilia

Abstract

Mechanically gated ion channels convert sound into an electrical signal for the sense of hearing. In Drosophila melanogaster, several transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have been implicated to be involved in this process. TRPN (NompC) and TRPV (Inactive) channels are localized in the distal and proximal ciliary zones of auditory receptor neurons, respectively. This segregated ciliary localization suggests distinct roles in auditory transduction. However, the regulation of this localization is not fully understood. Here we show that the Drosophila Tubby homolog, King tubby (hereafter called dTULP) regulates ciliary localization of TRPs. dTULP-deficient flies show uncoordinated movement and complete loss of sound-evoked action potentials. Inactive and NompC are mislocalized in the cilia of auditory receptor neurons in the dTulp mutants, indicating that dTULP is required for proper cilia membrane protein localization. This is the first demonstration that dTULP regulates TRP channel localization in cilia, and suggests that dTULP is a protein that regulates ciliary neurosensory functions.

Author Summary

Tubby is a member of the Tubby-like protein (TULP) family. Tubby mutations in mice (tubby mice) cause late-onset obesity and neurosensory deficits such as retinal degeneration and hearing loss. However, the exact molecular mechanism of Tubby has not been determined. Here we show that Drosophila Tubby homolog, King tubby (dTULP), regulates ciliary localization of transient receptor potential protein (TRP). dTULP-deficient flies showed uncoordinated movement and complete loss of sound-evoked action potentials. dTULP was localized in the cilia of chordotonal neurons of Johnston's organ. Two TRP channels essential for auditory transduction, Inactive and NompC, were mislocalized in the cilia of chordotonal neurons in the dTulp mutants, indicating that dTULP is required for proper cilia membrane protein localization. This is the first demonstration that dTULP regulates TRP channel localization in cilia, and thus provides novel insights into the pathogenic mechanism of tubby mice.