Outer Dynein Arm-docking Complex Research Articles

Genetic Alterations of NF-κB and Its Regulators: A Rich Platform to Advance Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States, with an estimated 52,000 deaths in 2023. Though significant progress has been made in both diagnosis and treatment of CRC in recent years, genetic heterogeneity of CRC-the culprit for possible CRC relapse and drug resistance, is still an insurmountable challenge. Thus, developing more effective therapeutics to overcome this challenge in new CRC treatment strategies is imperative. Genetic and epigenetic changes are well recognized to be responsible for the stepwise development of CRC malignancy. In this review, we focus on detailed genetic alteration information about the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling, including both NF-κB family members, and their regulators, such as protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), and outer dynein arm docking complex subunit 2 (ODAD2, also named armadillo repeat-containing 4, ARMC4), etc., in CRC patients. Moreover, we provide deep insight into different CRC research models, with a particular focus on patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and organoid models, and their potential applications in CRC research. Genetic alterations on NF-κB signaling components are estimated to be more than 50% of the overall genetic changes identified in CRC patients collected by cBioportal for Cancer Genomics; thus, emphasizing its paramount importance in CRC progression. Consequently, various genetic alterations on NF-κB signaling may hold great promise for novel therapeutic development in CRC. Future endeavors may focus on utilizing CRC models (e.g., PDX or organoids, or isogenic human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived colonic cells, or human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC)-derived colonic organoids, etc.) to further uncover the underpinning mechanism of these genetic alterations in NF-κB signaling in CRC progression. Moreover, establishing platforms for drug discovery in dishes, and developing Biobanks, etc., may further pave the way for the development of innovative personalized medicine to treat CRC in the future.

ODAD1 variants resulting from splice-site mutations retain partial function and cause primary ciliary dyskinesia with outer dynein arm defects.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder caused by defects in motile ciliary function and/or structure. Outer dynein arm docking complex subunit 1 (ODAD1) is an important component of the outer dynein arm docking complex (ODA-DC). To date, 13 likely pathogenic mutations of ODAD1 have been reported. However, the pathogenesis of ODAD1 mutations remains elusive. To investigate the pathogenesis of splice-site mutations in ODAD1 discovered in this study and those reported previously, molecular and functional analyses were performed. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a compound mutation in ODAD1 (c.71-2A>C; c.598-2A>C) in a patient with PCD, with c.598-2A>C being a novel mutation that resulted in two mutant transcripts. The compound mutation in ODAD1 (c.71-2A>C; c.598-2A>C) led to aberrant splicing that resulted in the absence of the wild-type ODAD1 and defects of the outer dynein arm in ciliary axonemes, causing a decrease in ciliary beat frequency. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the truncated proteins resulting from splice-site mutations in ODAD1 could retain partial function and inhibit the interaction between wild-type ODAD1 and ODAD3. The results of this study expand the mutational and clinical spectrum of PCD, provide more evidence for genetic counseling, and offer new insights into gene-based therapeutic strategies for PCD.

Outer dynein arm docking complex subunit 2 polymorphism rs7893462 modulates hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility and can serve as an overall survival biomarker for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy: a cohort study with a long-term follow-up

BackgroundGenetic variants of outer dynein arm docking complex subunit 2 (ODAD2) have been reported to be closely associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia and colorectal cancer in previous studies, but the association of genetic variants of ODAD2 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported.MethodsWe enrolled 80 healthy subjects and 468 Guangxi hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC patients in this study. A case–control study method was used to explore the association of different ODAD2-rs7893462 genotypes with hepatocarcinogenesis. A comprehensive survival analysis was used to explore the association of rs7893462 with the prognosis of HBV-related HCC in Guangxi.ResultsThrough a case–control study, we observed that patients carrying the G allele of rs7893462 had a markedly increased susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis (odds ratio = 1.712, 95% confidence interval = 1.032–2.839, P = 0.037). We found that there were significant prognosis differences among three different genotypes of rs7893462. Nomogram analysis suggested that the contribution of rs7893462 polymorphisms to the prognosis of HBV-related HCC was second only to the BCLC stage. Stratified survival analysis suggested that the AG genotype of rs7893462 was an independent prognostic risk factor for HBV-related HCC. Joint effect survival analysis also observed that the AG genotype of rs7893462 combined with clinical parameters could significantly identify HBV-related HCC patients with different prognostic outcomes more accurately, and the AG genotype was also observed to be independent of clinical factors in HBV-related HCC survival.ConclusionThe ODAD2-rs7893462 polymorphisms can be used as an independent prognostic indicator of HBV-related HCC overall survival and are significantly associated with susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis.

Expression of Concern: Characterization of a Subunit of the Outer Dynein Arm Docking Complex Necessary for Correct Flagellar Assembly in Leishmania donovani.

Expression of Concern: Characterization of a Subunit of the Outer Dynein Arm Docking Complex Necessary for Correct Flagellar Assembly in Leishmania donovani.

Using VBIM Technique to Discover ARMC4/ODAD2 as a Novel Negative Regulator of NF-κB and a New Tumor Suppressor in Colorectal Cancer.

Since nuclear factor (NF) κB plays pivotal roles in inflammation and cancer, understanding its regulation holds great promise for disease therapy. Using the powerful validation-based insertional mutagenesis (VBIM) technique established by us previously, we discovered armadillo repeat-containing protein 4 (ARMC4)/outer dynein arm docking complex subunit 2 (ODAD2), a rarely studied protein known to date, as a novel negative regulator of NF-κB in colorectal cancer (CRC). High expression of ARMC4 downregulated the expression of NF-κB-dependent genes, dramatically reduced NF-κB activity, cellular proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and migratory ability in vitro, and significantly decreased xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that ARMC4 forms a complex with NF-κB. Importantly, the lower ARMC4 expression in patient tumors than normal tissues indicates its potential tumor suppressor function in CRC. Collectively, we uncovered a completely new facet of ARMC4 function by identifying it as a novel NF-κB negative regulator, thus uncovering ARMC4 as a potential new therapeutic target in CRC.

Expression of a Truncated Form of ODAD1 Associated with an Unusually Mild Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Phenotype.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare lung disease caused by mutations that impair the function of motile cilia, resulting in chronic upper and lower respiratory disease, reduced fertility, and a high prevalence of situs abnormalities. The disease is genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous, with causative mutations in > 50 genes identified, and clinical phenotypes ranging from mild to severe. Absence of ODAD1 (CCDC114), a component of the outer dynein arm docking complex, results in a failure to assemble outer dynein arms (ODAs), mostly immotile cilia, and a typical PCD phenotype. We identified a female (now 34 years old) with an unusually mild clinical phenotype who has a homozygous non-canonical splice mutation (c.1502+5G>A) in ODAD1. To investigate the mechanism for the unusual phenotype, we performed molecular and functional studies of cultured nasal epithelial cells. We demonstrate that this splice mutation results in the expression of a truncated protein that is attached to the axoneme, indicating that the mutant protein retains partial function. This allows for the assembly of some ODAs and a significant level of ciliary activity that may result in the atypically mild clinical phenotype. The results also suggest that partial restoration of ciliary function by therapeutic agents could lead to significant improvement of disease symptoms.

Consensus nomenclature for dyneins and associated assembly factors.

Dyneins are highly complex, multicomponent, microtubule-based molecular motors. These enzymes are responsible for numerous motile behaviors in cytoplasm, mediate retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT), and power ciliary and flagellar motility. Variants in multiple genes encoding dyneins, outer dynein arm (ODA) docking complex subunits, and cytoplasmic factors involved in axonemal dynein preassembly (DNAAFs) are associated with human ciliopathies and are of clinical interest. Therefore, clear communication within this field is particularly important. Standardizing gene nomenclature, and basing it on orthology where possible, facilitates discussion and genetic comparison across species. Here, we discuss how the human gene nomenclature for dyneins, ODA docking complex subunits, and DNAAFs has been updated to be more functionally informative and consistent with that of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a key model organism for studying dyneins and ciliary function. We also detail additional nomenclature updates for vertebrate-specific genes that encode dynein chains and other proteins involved in dynein complex assembly.

Cilia Loss and Dynein Assembly Defects in Planaria Lacking an Outer Dynein Arm-Docking Complex Subunit.

The outer dynein arm-docking complex (ODA-DC), which was first identified in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is a protein complex that mediates the binding of axonemal dynein and doublet microtubules. To gain a better understanding of the evolutionary conservation and functional diversity of the ODA-DC, we knocked down a homolog of DC2, a major subunit of the ODA-DC, in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Planaria are carnivorous flatworms that move by beating cilia on their ventral surface against a secreted mucus layer. These organisms have recently been used for cilia research because knockdown of flatworm genes by RNA interference (RNAi) is readily achieved through feeding with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Lack of DC2 in S. mediterranea caused several defects in cilia, including low beat frequency, decreased ciliary density, and a reduction in ciliary length. The loss of DC2 function C. reinhardtii mutant oda1 shows slow jerky swimming, but has two flagella of almost normal length. These data suggest that the function of a DC2 homolog in S. mediterranea cilia may be somewhat different from DC2 in C. reinhardtii flagella.

Homozygous loss-of-function mutations in MNS1 cause laterality defects and likely male infertility.

The clinical spectrum of ciliopathies affecting motile cilia spans impaired mucociliary clearance in the respiratory system, laterality defects including heart malformations, infertility and hydrocephalus. Using linkage analysis and whole exome sequencing, we identified two recessive loss-of-function MNS1 mutations in five individuals from four consanguineous families: 1) a homozygous nonsense mutation p.Arg242* in four males with laterality defects and infertility and 2) a homozygous nonsense mutation p.Gln203* in one female with laterality defects and recurrent respiratory infections additionally carrying homozygous mutations in DNAH5. Consistent with the laterality defects observed in these individuals, we found Mns1 to be expressed in mouse embryonic ventral node. Immunofluorescence analysis further revealed that MNS1 localizes to the axonemes of respiratory cilia as well as sperm flagella in human. In-depth ultrastructural analyses confirmed a subtle outer dynein arm (ODA) defect in the axonemes of respiratory epithelial cells resembling findings reported in Mns1-deficient mice. Ultrastructural analyses in the female carrying combined mutations in MNS1 and DNAH5 indicated a role for MNS1 in the process of ODA docking (ODA-DC) in the distal respiratory axonemes. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two hybrid analyses demonstrated that MNS1 dimerizes and interacts with the ODA docking complex component CCDC114. Overall, we demonstrate that MNS1 deficiency in humans causes laterality defects (situs inversus) and likely male infertility and that MNS1 plays a role in the ODA-DC assembly.

Characterization of a new oda3 allele, oda3-6, defective in assembly of the outer dynein arm-docking complex in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

We have used an insertional mutagenesis approach to generate new C. reinhardtii motility mutants. Of 56 mutants isolated, one is a new allele at the ODA3 locus, called oda3-6. Similar to the previously characterized oda3 alleles, oda3-6 has a slow-jerky swimming phenotype and reduced swimming speed. The oda3-6 mutant fails to assemble the outer dynein arm motor and outer dynein arm—docking complex (ODA-DC) in the ciliary axoneme due to an insertion in the 5’ end of the DCC1 gene, which encodes the DC1 subunit of the ODA-DC. Transformation of oda3-6 with the wild-type DCC1 gene rescues the mutant swimming phenotype and restores assembly of the ODA-DC and the outer dynein arm in the cilium. This is the first oda3 mutant to be characterized at the molecular level and is likely to be very useful for further analysis of DC1 function.

The Oligomeric Outer Dynein Arm Assembly Factor CCDC103 Is Tightly Integrated within the Ciliary Axoneme and Exhibits Periodic Binding to Microtubules

CCDC103 is an ∼29-kDa protein consisting of a central RPAP3_C domain flanked by N- and C-terminal coiled coils. Defects in CCDC103 lead to primary ciliary dyskinesia caused by the loss of outer dynein arms. This protein is present along the entire length of the ciliary axoneme and does not require other dynein or docking complex components for its integration. Unlike other known dynein assembly factors within the axoneme, CCDC103 is not solubilized by 0.6 M NaCl and requires more chaotropic conditions, such as 0.5 M KI. Alternatively, it can be extracted using 0.3% sarkosyl. CCDC103 forms stable dimers and other oligomers in solution through interactions involving the central domain. The smallest particle observed by dynamic light scattering has a hydrodynamic diameter of ∼25 nm. Furthermore, CCDC103 binds microtubules directly, forming ∼9-nm diameter particles that exhibit a 12-nm spacing on the microtubule lattice, suggesting that there may be two CCDC103 units per outer arm dynein repeat. Although the outer dynein arm docking complex is necessary to form arrays of dyneins along microtubules, it is not sufficient to set up a single array in a precise location on each axonemal doublet. We propose that CCDC103 helps generate a high-affinity site on the doublets for outer arm assembly, either through direct interactions or indirectly, perhaps by modifying the underlying microtubule lattice.

Alcohol-induced ciliary dysfunction targets the outer dynein arm.

Alcohol abuse results in an increased incidence of pulmonary infection, in part attributable to impaired mucociliary clearance. Analysis of motility in mammalian airway cilia has revealed that alcohol impacts the ciliary dynein motors by a mechanism involving altered axonemal protein phosphorylation. Given the highly conserved nature of cilia, it is likely that the mechanisms for alcohol-induced ciliary dysfunction (AICD) are conserved. Thus we utilized the experimental advantages offered by the model organism, Chlamydomonas, to determine the precise effects of alcohol on ciliary dynein activity and identify axonemal phosphoproteins that are altered by alcohol exposure. Analysis of live cells or reactivated cell models showed that alcohol significantly inhibits ciliary motility in Chlamydomonas via a mechanism that is part of the axonemal structure. Taking advantage of informative mutant cells, we found that alcohol impacts the activity of the outer dynein arm. Consistent with this finding, alcohol exposure results in a significant reduction in ciliary beat frequency, a parameter of ciliary movement that requires normal outer dynein arm function. Using mutants that lack specific heavy-chain motor domains, we have determined that alcohol impacts the β- and γ-heavy chains of the outer dynein arm. Furthermore, using a phospho-threonine-specific antibody, we determined that the phosphorylation state of DCC1 of the outer dynein arm-docking complex is altered in the presence of alcohol, and its phosphorylation correlates with AICD. These results demonstrate that alcohol targets specific outer dynein arm components and suggest that DCC1 is part of an alcohol-sensitive mechanism that controls outer dynein arm activity.

CCDC151 Mutations Cause Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia by Disruption of the Outer Dynein Arm Docking Complex Formation

A diverse family of cytoskeletal dynein motors powers various cellular transport systems, including axonemal dyneins generating the force for ciliary and flagellar beating essential to movement of extracellular fluids and of cells through fluid. Multisubunit outer dynein arm (ODA) motor complexes, produced and preassembled in the cytosol, are transported to the ciliary or flagellar compartment and anchored into the axonemal microtubular scaffold via the ODA docking complex (ODA-DC) system. In humans, defects in ODA assembly are the major cause of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), an inherited disorder of ciliary and flagellar dysmotility characterized by chronic upper and lower respiratory infections and defects in laterality. Here, by combined high-throughput mapping and sequencing, we identified CCDC151 loss-of-function mutations in five affected individuals from three independent families whose cilia showed a complete loss of ODAs and severely impaired ciliary beating. Consistent with the laterality defects observed in these individuals, we found Ccdc151 expressed in vertebrate left-right organizers. Homozygous zebrafish ccdc151ts272a and mouse Ccdc151Snbl mutants display a spectrum of situs defects associated with complex heart defects. We demonstrate that CCDC151 encodes an axonemal coiled coil protein, mutations in which abolish assembly of CCDC151 into respiratory cilia and cause a failure in axonemal assembly of the ODA component DNAH5 and the ODA-DC-associated components CCDC114 and ARMC4. CCDC151-deficient zebrafish, planaria, and mice also display ciliary dysmotility accompanied by ODA loss. Furthermore, CCDC151 coimmunoprecipitates CCDC114 and thus appears to be a highly evolutionarily conserved ODA-DC-related protein involved in mediating assembly of both ODAs and their axonemal docking machinery onto ciliary microtubules.

The coiled-coil domain containing protein CCDC151 is required for the function of IFT-dependent motile cilia in animals

Cilia are evolutionarily conserved organelles endowed with essential physiological and developmental functions. In humans, disruption of cilia motility or signaling leads to complex pleiotropic genetic disorders called ciliopathies. Cilia motility requires the assembly of multi-subunit motile components such as dynein arms, but mechanisms underlying their assembly pathway and transport into the axoneme are still largely unknown. We identified a previously uncharacterized coiled-coil domain containing protein CCDC151, which is evolutionarily conserved in motile ciliated species and shares ancient features with the outer dynein arm-docking complex 2 of Chlamydomonas. In Drosophila, we show that CG14127/CCDC151 is associated with motile intraflagellar transport (IFT)-dependent cilia and required for geotaxis behavior of adult flies. In zebrafish, Ccdc151 is expressed in tissues with motile cilia, and morpholino-induced depletion of Ccdc151 leads to left-right asymmetry defects and kidney cysts. We demonstrate that Ccdc151 is required for proper motile function of cilia in the Kupffer's vesicle and in the pronephros by controlling dynein arm assembly, showing that Ccdc151 is a novel player in the control of IFT-dependent dynein arm assembly in animals. However, we observed that CCDC151 is also implicated in other cellular functions in vertebrates. In zebrafish, ccdc151 is involved in proper orientation of cell divisions in the pronephros and genetically interacts with prickle1 in this process. Furthermore, knockdown experiments in mammalian cells demonstrate that CCDC151 is implicated in the regulation of primary cilium length. Hence, CCDC151 is required for motile cilia function in animals but has acquired additional non-motile functions in vertebrates.

Protein–protein interactions between intermediate chains and the docking complex of Chlamydomonas flagellar outer arm dynein

Outer arm dynein (OAD) is bound to specific loci on outer-doublet-microtubules by interactions at two sites: via intermediate chain 1 (IC1) and the outer dynein arm docking complex (ODA-DC). Studies using Chlamydomonas mutants have suggested that the individual sites have rather weak affinities for microtubules, and therefore strong OAD attachment to microtubules is achieved by their cooperation. To test this idea, we examined interactions between IC1, IC2 (another intermediate chain) and ODA-DC using recombinant proteins. Recombinant IC1 and IC2 were found to form a 1:1 complex, and this complex associated with ODA-DC in vitro. Binding of IC1 to mutant axonemes revealed that there are specific binding sites for IC1. From these data, we propose a novel model of OAD-outer doublet association.

Loss‐of‐function mutations in CCDC114 cause primary ciliary dyskinesia

Splice‐site mutations in the axonemal outer dynein arm docking complex gene CCDC114 cause primary ciliary dyskinesiaOnoufriadis et al. (2013)American Journal of Human Genetics 92:88–98.Exome sequencing identifies mutations in CCDC114 as a cause of primary ciliary dyskinesiaKnowles et al. (2013)American Journal of Human Genetics 92:99–106.

Characterization of a subunit of the outer dynein arm docking complex necessary for correct flagellar assembly in Leishmania donovani.

BackgroundIn order to proceed through their life cycle, Leishmania parasites switch between sandflies and mammals. The flagellated promastigote cells transmitted by the insect vector are phagocytized by macrophages within the mammalian host and convert into the amastigote stage, which possesses a rudimentary flagellum only. During an earlier proteomic study of the stage differentiation of the parasite we identified a component of the outer dynein arm docking complex, a structure of the flagellar axoneme. The 70 kDa subunit of the outer dynein arm docking complex consists of three subunits altogether and is essential for the assembly of the outer dynein arm onto the doublet microtubule of the flagella. According to the nomenclature of the well-studied Chlamydomonas reinhardtii complex we named the Leishmania protein LdDC2.Methodology/Principal FindingsThis study features a characterization of the protein over the life cycle of the parasite. It is synthesized exclusively in the promastigote stage and localizes to the flagellum. Gene replacement mutants of lddc2 show reduced growth rates and diminished flagellar length. Additionally, the normally spindle-shaped promastigote parasites reveal a more spherical cell shape giving them an amastigote-like appearance. The mutants lose their motility and wiggle in place. Ultrastructural analyses reveal that the outer dynein arm is missing. Furthermore, expression of the amastigote-specific A2 gene family was detected in the deletion mutants in the absence of a stage conversion stimulus. In vitro infectivity is slightly increased in the mutant cell line compared to wild-type Leishmania donovani parasites.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results indicate that the correct assembly of the flagellum has a great influence on the investigated characteristics of Leishmania parasites. The lack of a single flagellar protein causes an aberrant morphology, impaired growth and altered infectiousness of the parasite.

Ap58: A novel in situ outer dynein arm-binding protein

Outer arm dynein is a molecular motor that is positioned at 24 nm intervals on outer doublet microtubules in cilia and flagella. In the present paper, we report identification of a 58 kDa novel protein with a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR), referred to as ap58 (for 58 kDa axonemal protein) in sea urchin sperm axonemes. Ap58 is extracted along with the outer arm dynein by a high salt solution from axonemes. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation or gel filtration of the extract separates the outer arm dynein core from ap58. Most ap58 sediments to the lower density fraction or elutes in fractions of smaller molecules. However, immunogold localization reveals that ap58 is distributed at ∼25 nm intervals on doublet microtubules, suggesting that in situ it is associated with the outer dynein arm. Thus, ap58 with the TPR motif is a new member of outer dynein arm-binding proteins distinct from the outer dynein arm-docking complex.

Oda5p, a novel axonemal protein required for assembly of the outer dynein arm and an associated adenylate kinase.

Of the uncloned ODA genes required for outer dynein arm assembly in Chlamydomonas, ODA5 and ODA10 are of particular interest because they do not encode known subunits of the outer arm or the outer dynein arm-docking complex (ODA-DC), and because genetic studies suggest their products interact. Beginning with a tagged oda5 allele, we isolated genomic and cDNA clones of the wild-type gene. ODA5 predicts a novel, 66-kDa coiled-coil protein. Immunoblotting indicates Oda5p is an axonemal component that assembles onto the axoneme independently of the outer arm and ODA-DC and is uniquely missing in oda5 and oda10 axonemes. Oda5p is released from the axoneme by extraction with 0.6 M KCl, but the soluble Oda5p does not cosediment with the outer dynein arm/ODA-DC in sucrose gradients. Quantitative mass spectrometry by using isotope coded affinity tagging revealed that a previously unidentified adenylate kinase is reduced 35-50% in oda5 flagella. Direct enzymatic assays demonstrated a comparable reduction in adenylate kinase activity in oda5 flagella, and also in oda10 flagella, but not in flagella of other oda mutants. We propose that Oda5p is part of a novel axonemal complex that is required for outer arm assembly and anchors adenylate kinase in proximity to the arm.

DC3, the Smallest Subunit of the Chlamydomonas Flagellar Outer Dynein Arm-docking Complex, Is a Redox-sensitive Calcium-binding Protein

The outer dynein arm-docking complex (ODA-DC) targets the outer dynein arm to its correct binding site on the flagellar axoneme. The Chlamydomonas ODA-DC contains three proteins; loss of any one prevents normal assembly of the outer arm, leading to a slow, jerky swimming phenotype. We showed previously that the smallest ODA-DC subunit, DC3, has four EF-hands (Casey, D. M., Inaba, K., Pazour, G. J., Takada, S., Wakabayashi, K., Wilkerson, C. G., Kamiya, R., and Witman, G. B. (2003) Mol. Biol. Cell 14, 3650-3663). Two of the EF-hands fit the consensus pattern for calcium binding, and one of these contains two cysteine residues within its binding loop. To determine whether the predicted EF-hands are functional, we purified bacterially expressed wild-type DC3 and analyzed its calcium-binding potential in the presence and absence of dithiothreitol and Mg2+. The protein bound one calcium ion with an affinity (Kd) of approximately 1 x 10-5 m. Calcium binding was observed only in the presence of dithiothreitol and thus is redox-sensitive. DC3 also bound Mg2+ at physiological concentrations but with a much lower affinity. Changing the essential glutamate to glutamine in both EF-hands eliminated the calcium binding activity of the bacterially expressed protein. To investigate the role of the EF-hands in vivo, we transformed the modified DC3 gene into a Chlamydomonas insertional mutant lacking DC3. The transformed strain swam normally, assembled a normal number of outer arms, and had a normal photoshock response, indicating that the Glu to Gln mutations did not affect ODA-DC assembly, outer arm assembly, or Ca2+-mediated outer arm activity. Thus, DC3 is a true calcium-binding protein, but the function of this activity remains unknown.