?

Subcellular localization

basal body, Nucleoplasm, Cell Junctions

Functional category

• Metabolism
• Cilia–cytoskeleton/adhesion links

Function

We show that the desmosomal protein plakophilin3, a member of the armadillo family of proteins, localizes to the striated rootlet in Xenopus laevis multiciliated cells. Knockdown of plakophilin 3 leads to significant defects in cilia-generated fluid flow and basal body docking. These defects are cell-autonomous and independent of cell intercalation and gross changes in the actin cytoskeleton. These findings suggest a crucial role for PKP3 in basal body apical migration and docking in multiciliated cells, highlighting a novel connection between desmosomal proteins and ciliary function(40508190).