Trafficking of myristoylated proteins to the cilium

Trafficking of myristoylated proteins to the cilium A number of myristoylated proteins have been shown to traffic to the cilium in a myristoyl- and UNC119B:ARL3:RP2-dependent fashion. These include the ciliary proteins Nephrocystin 3 (NPHP3) and Cystin 1 (CYS1) (Wright et al, 2011; reviewed in Schwarz et al, 2012). Myristoyl-binding by the ARL3 effector UNC119B is required in an unknown fashion for the transport of the myristoylated cargo to the cilium. At the cilium, a GTPase cycle involving the ARF-like small GTPase ARL3 and its GAP protein RP2 promote the release of the myristoylated proteins into the ciliary membrane and the recycling and ciliary exit of UNC119B (Wright et al, 2011; reviewed in Schwarz et al, 2012). ARL3 plays additional roles in the cilium coordinating the association of IFT A and IFT B complexes with the kinesin motors (Li et al, 2010; reviewed in Li et al, 2012).