Polycystins recruit cargo to distinct ciliary extracellular vesicle subtypes in C. elegans

Abstract Therapeutic use of tiny extracellular vesicles (EVs) requires understanding cargo loading mechanisms. Here, we use a modular proximity labeling approach to identify the cargo of ciliary EVs associated with the transient receptor potential channel polycystin-2 PKD-2 of C. elegans. Polycystin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Inna A. Nikonorova, Elizabeth desRanleau, Katherine C. Jacobs, Josh Saul, Jonathon D. Walsh, Juan Wang, Maureen M. Barr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57512-3
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Summary:Abstract Therapeutic use of tiny extracellular vesicles (EVs) requires understanding cargo loading mechanisms. Here, we use a modular proximity labeling approach to identify the cargo of ciliary EVs associated with the transient receptor potential channel polycystin-2 PKD-2 of C. elegans. Polycystins are conserved ciliary proteins and cargo of EVs; dysfunction causes polycystic kidney disease in humans and mating deficits in C. elegans. We discover that polycystins localize with specific cargo on ciliary EVs: polycystin-associated channel-like protein PACL-1, dorsal and ventral polycystin-associated membrane C-type lectins PAMLs, and conserved tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) TRF-1 and TRF-2. Loading of these components to EVs relies on polycystin-1 LOV-1. Our modular EV-TurboID approach can be applied in both cell- and tissue-specific manners to define the composition of distinct EV subtypes, addressing a major challenge of the EV field.
ISSN:2041-1723