Phosphorylation at the Helm: Kinase-Mediated Regulation of Primary Cilia Assembly and Disassembly

Abstract

The primary cilium serves as an antenna of most vertebrate cells and is important for conveying cues from several signaling pathways into appropriate cellular responses during development and homeostasis. Cilia assembly and disassembly processes are thought to be strictly controlled; however, the precise nature of molecular events underlying this control still awaits full resolution. Through their enzymatic activity, kinases function as flexible yet highly controllable regulators of a vast variety of cellular processes. Their activity ranges from cell cycle control to regulation of cell motility, signal transduction, and metabolism. This review focuses on the emerging role of kinases in primary cilia biology. We underscore their functions in primary cilia formation, maintenance, and resorption while examining available models and the respective mechanisms of their actions.