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SummaryLeft-dominant [Ca2+]ielevation on the margin of ventral node furnishes the initial laterality signaling in mouse embryos. It depends on nodal flow, FGFR signaling, and PKD1L1-containing polycystin channels, of which interrelationship is still missing. Here we show that PKD1L1 protein is predominantly accumulated on the left margin of the nodal pit and serves as a chemosensory channel for Nodal-mediated [Ca2+]ielevation. PKD1L1/PKD2 overexpression augmented the Nodal sensitivity of fibroblasts. We detected PKD1L1-containing fragile meshwork of fibrous strands using KikGR-PKD1L1 knockin mice, especially when the extraembryonic membrane was preserved. The portion of meshwork bridging over nodal crown cells significantly lateralized to the left. This bridge was formed by a leftward flow of PKD1L1-containing fibrous strands, which can be suppressed by the FGFR inhibitor SU5402 that antagonized the [Ca2+]ielevation as well. These data provide evidence for a leftward transfer of chemosensory PKD1L1 polycystin channel, as a readout mechanism of nodal flow.

Epilepsy is a common neurological disease worldwide, and one of its causes is genetic abnormalities. Here, we identified a point mutation in KIF4A, a member of kinesin superfamily molecular motors, in patients with neurological disorders such as epilepsy, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. KIF4 is involved in the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) signaling pathway, and the mutation (R728Q) strengthened its affinity with PARP1 through elongation of the KIF4 coiled-coil domain. Behavioral tests showed that KIF4-mutant mice exhibited mild developmental delay with lower seizure threshold. Further experiments revealed that the KIF4 mutation caused aberrant morphology in dendrites and spines of hippocampal pyramidal neurons through PARP1-TrkB-KCC2 pathway. Furthermore, supplementing NAD, which activates PARP1, could modulate the TrkB-KCC2 pathway and rescue the seizure susceptibility phenotype of the mutant mice. Therefore, these findings indicate that KIF4 is engaged in a fundamental mechanism regulating seizure susceptibility and could be a potential target for epilepsy treatment.

Digit determination in limb buds is driven by a posteriorizing Sonic hedgehog (Shh) protein gradient; however, the mechanism regulating this is unclear. Here, we propose a diffusion-and-trapping hypothesis for Shh gradient formation based on data from the preaxial polydactyly phenotype of KIF3B motor hypomorphic mice. In the limb buds of these mice, a distal-to-proximal gradient of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling and a posterior-to-anterior gradient of Shh were disorganized. This phenotype was reproduced by transplanting FGF8b-soaked beads. At the subcellular level, KIF3B transported the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-like phosphatase Talpid3 to terminate PI3K signaling. High and low PI3K signaling strengths differentially sorted endocytosed Shh toward exosome-like particles and cytonemal punctata, respectively. These results indicate that the Shh-containing particles undergo either the diffusional movement in the periphery or cytonemal trapping in the center and form a spatial gradient along the periphery of developing limb buds.

The mechanochemical coupling of ATPase hydrolysis and conformational dynamics in kinesin motors facilitates intramolecular interaction cycles between the kinesin motor and neck domains, which are essential for microtubule‐based motility. Here, we characterized a charge‐inverting KIF1A‐E239K mutant that we identified in a family with axonal‐type Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease and also in 24 cases in human neuropathies including spastic paraplegia and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy. We show that Glu239 in the β7 strand is a key residue of the motor domain that regulates the motor‐neck interaction. Expression of the KIF1A‐E239K mutation has decreased ability to complement Kif1a (+/–) neurons, and significantly decreases ATPase activity and microtubule gliding velocity. X‐ray crystallography shows that this mutation causes an excess positive charge on β7, which may electrostatically interact with a negative charge on the neck. Quantitative mass spectrometric analysis supports that the mutation hyper‐stabilizes the motor‐neck interaction at the late ATP hydrolysis stage. Thus, the negative charge of Glu239 dynamically regulates the kinesin motor‐neck interaction, promoting release of the neck from the motor domain upon ATP hydrolysis.