IFT52

UniProt ID: Q9Y366
Organism: Homo sapiens
Review Status: DRAFT
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Gene Description

IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the intraflagellar transport B complex, built from an N-terminal GIFT-like domain, a central domain and a C-terminal region that mediate multiple subunit contacts. IFT52 is a structural hub of IFT-B: it bridges the IFT88/IFT70/IFT52/IFT46 and IFT81/IFT74/IFT27/IFT25/IFT22 portions of the IFT-B1 core and connects IFT-B1 to the peripheral IFT-B2 subcomplex via IFT57/IFT38. As part of anterograde IFT trains moved by kinesin-2, IFT52 is required for ciliary entry of IFT-B and for cilium assembly and length control. IFT52 resides at the ciliary base and within cilia. Biallelic IFT52 variants cause short-rib thoracic dysplasia (SRTD16); patient cells show reduced levels of other IFT-B subunits and impaired ciliogenesis.

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:26980730
Overall Architecture of the Intraflagellar Transport (IFT)-B...
REMOVE
Summary: Protein binding (IPI) from PMID:26980730. The partner is another IFT-B subunit identified in the visible immunoprecipitation (VIP) mapping of IFT-B architecture; this is captured more informatively by the IFT-B complex (GO:0030992) annotation.
Reason: Generic 'protein binding' conveys no functional information. Removal does not dispute the reported interaction; the informative content (membership of the IFT complex, or a specific interaction partner) is better represented by complex membership or a specific binding term.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:26980730
Using the visible immunoprecipitation assay, which we recently developed as a convenient protein-protein interaction assay, we determined the overall architecture of the IFT-B complex, which can be divided into core and peripheral subcomplexes composed of 10 and 6 subunits, respectively.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:26980730
Overall Architecture of the Intraflagellar Transport (IFT)-B...
REMOVE
Summary: Protein binding (IPI) from PMID:26980730. The partner is another IFT-B subunit identified in the visible immunoprecipitation (VIP) mapping of IFT-B architecture; this is captured more informatively by the IFT-B complex (GO:0030992) annotation.
Reason: Generic 'protein binding' conveys no functional information. Removal does not dispute the reported interaction; the informative content (membership of the IFT complex, or a specific interaction partner) is better represented by complex membership or a specific binding term.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:26980730
Using the visible immunoprecipitation assay, which we recently developed as a convenient protein-protein interaction assay, we determined the overall architecture of the IFT-B complex, which can be divided into core and peripheral subcomplexes composed of 10 and 6 subunits, respectively.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:31637240
SANS (USH1G) Molecularly Links the Human Usher Syndrome Prot...
REMOVE
Summary: Protein binding (IPI) from PMID:31637240.
Reason: Generic 'protein binding' conveys no functional information. Removal does not dispute the reported interaction; the informative content (membership of the IFT complex, or a specific interaction partner) is better represented by complex membership or a specific binding term.
GO:0005515 protein binding
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
REMOVE
Summary: Protein binding (ISS) from GO_REF:0000024.
Reason: Generic 'protein binding' conveys no functional information. Removal does not dispute the reported interaction; the informative content (membership of the IFT complex, or a specific interaction partner) is better represented by complex membership or a specific binding term.
GO:0005813 centrosome
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Located in centrosome (IEA, GO_REF:0000107).
Reason: The ciliary basal body is a modified mother centriole, so pericentriolar/centrosomal signal for IFT52 largely reflects its pool at the ciliary base; the more specific 'ciliary basal body' location is annotated separately. Retained as a correct but non-core location.
GO:0005814 centriole
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Located in centriole (IBA, GO_REF:0000033).
Reason: The ciliary basal body is a modified mother centriole, so pericentriolar/centrosomal signal for IFT52 largely reflects its pool at the ciliary base; the more specific 'ciliary basal body' location is annotated separately. Retained as a correct but non-core location.
GO:0005814 centriole
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Located in centriole (IEA, GO_REF:0000107).
Reason: The ciliary basal body is a modified mother centriole, so pericentriolar/centrosomal signal for IFT52 largely reflects its pool at the ciliary base; the more specific 'ciliary basal body' location is annotated separately. Retained as a correct but non-core location.
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in cilium (IBA, GO_REF:0000033). IFT particles containing IFT52 move bidirectionally along the ciliary axoneme.
Reason: IFT52 is an intrinsic component of the IFT machinery that operates inside cilia; cilium is a correct (if general) location. More specific locations (ciliary base/basal body, axoneme, ciliary tip) are also annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24140113
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) depends on two evolutionarily conserved modules, subcomplexes A (IFT-A) and B (IFT-B), to drive ciliary assembly and maintenance.
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in cilium (IEA, GO_REF:0000120). IFT particles containing IFT52 move bidirectionally along the ciliary axoneme.
Reason: IFT52 is an intrinsic component of the IFT machinery that operates inside cilia; cilium is a correct (if general) location. More specific locations (ciliary base/basal body, axoneme, ciliary tip) are also annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24140113
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) depends on two evolutionarily conserved modules, subcomplexes A (IFT-A) and B (IFT-B), to drive ciliary assembly and maintenance.
NAS
PMID:26980730
Overall Architecture of the Intraflagellar Transport (IFT)-B...
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in cilium (NAS, PMID:26980730). IFT particles containing IFT52 move bidirectionally along the ciliary axoneme.
Reason: IFT52 is an intrinsic component of the IFT machinery that operates inside cilia; cilium is a correct (if general) location. More specific locations (ciliary base/basal body, axoneme, ciliary tip) are also annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24140113
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) depends on two evolutionarily conserved modules, subcomplexes A (IFT-A) and B (IFT-B), to drive ciliary assembly and maintenance.
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-5624949
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in cilium (TAS, Reactome:R-HSA-5624949). IFT particles containing IFT52 move bidirectionally along the ciliary axoneme.
Reason: IFT52 is an intrinsic component of the IFT machinery that operates inside cilia; cilium is a correct (if general) location. More specific locations (ciliary base/basal body, axoneme, ciliary tip) are also annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5624949
Both the anterograde and retrograde trains are associated with the outer microtubule doublets and with the inner surface of the flagellar membrane
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-5625416
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in cilium (TAS, Reactome:R-HSA-5625416). IFT particles containing IFT52 move bidirectionally along the ciliary axoneme.
Reason: IFT52 is an intrinsic component of the IFT machinery that operates inside cilia; cilium is a correct (if general) location. More specific locations (ciliary base/basal body, axoneme, ciliary tip) are also annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5625416
Anterograde trains travel along the axoneme of the cilium at an estimated rate of 2 micrometers per second in an ATP- and kinesin-2-dependent fashion
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-5625424
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in cilium (TAS, Reactome:R-HSA-5625424). IFT particles containing IFT52 move bidirectionally along the ciliary axoneme.
Reason: IFT52 is an intrinsic component of the IFT machinery that operates inside cilia; cilium is a correct (if general) location. More specific locations (ciliary base/basal body, axoneme, ciliary tip) are also annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5625424
At the base of the cilium, retrograde trains are believed to disassemble and recycle for a subsequent round of IFT transport
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-5625426
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in cilium (TAS, Reactome:R-HSA-5625426). IFT particles containing IFT52 move bidirectionally along the ciliary axoneme.
Reason: IFT52 is an intrinsic component of the IFT machinery that operates inside cilia; cilium is a correct (if general) location. More specific locations (ciliary base/basal body, axoneme, ciliary tip) are also annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5625426
Retrograde trains are shorter than anterograde particles and travel along the cilliary axoneme at an estimated rate of 3 micrometers per second
GO:0030991 intraciliary transport particle A
IDA
PMID:26980730
Overall Architecture of the Intraflagellar Transport (IFT)-B...
REMOVE
Summary: Part of intraciliary transport particle A (IFT-A), IDA from the Katoh et al. 2016 VIP study of IFT-B architecture. IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex, not of IFT-A.
Reason: IFT-A and IFT-B are biochemically distinct subcomplexes (IFT-A: IFT144/WDR19, IFT140, IFT122, IFT139/TTC21B, IFT121/WDR35, IFT43). The cited paper itself mapped IFT52 as a subunit of the IFT-B complex (and the same paper supports the GO:0030992 IFT-B annotation for IFT52); the IFT-A term is contradicted by decades of biochemistry and structural work, and the same IDA appears on every IFT-B subunit annotated from this paper, consistent with a batch term-selection error. IFT-B does associate with IFT-A within IFT trains, but train co-assembly is not complex membership. This is a genuinely contradicted claim, not a judgment based on an abstract foregrounding a different gene.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15955805
revealing a 500-kDa core that contains IFT88, IFT81, IFT74/72, IFT52, IFT46, and IFT27.
PMID:26980730
Using the visible immunoprecipitation assay, which we recently developed as a convenient protein-protein interaction assay, we determined the overall architecture of the IFT-B complex, which can be divided into core and peripheral subcomplexes composed of 10 and 6 subunits, respectively.
PMID:15955805
IFT particles contain multiple copies of two distinct protein complexes, A and B, which contain at least 6 and 11 protein subunits, respectively.
PMID:27932497
Intraflagellar transport (IFT)-A and -B complexes mediate retrograde and anterograde ciliary protein trafficking, respectively.
GO:0030992 intraciliary transport particle B
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Part of intraciliary transport particle B (IBA). IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex.
Reason: Membership of the IFT-B complex is the defining feature of IFT52 and is established biochemically (Chlamydomonas IFT-B core/peripheral fractionation; human VIP mapping) and structurally.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15955805
revealing a 500-kDa core that contains IFT88, IFT81, IFT74/72, IFT52, IFT46, and IFT27.
PMID:26980730
Using the visible immunoprecipitation assay, which we recently developed as a convenient protein-protein interaction assay, we determined the overall architecture of the IFT-B complex, which can be divided into core and peripheral subcomplexes composed of 10 and 6 subunits, respectively.
GO:0030992 intraciliary transport particle B
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Part of intraciliary transport particle B (IEA). IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex.
Reason: Membership of the IFT-B complex is the defining feature of IFT52 and is established biochemically (Chlamydomonas IFT-B core/peripheral fractionation; human VIP mapping) and structurally.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15955805
revealing a 500-kDa core that contains IFT88, IFT81, IFT74/72, IFT52, IFT46, and IFT27.
PMID:26980730
Using the visible immunoprecipitation assay, which we recently developed as a convenient protein-protein interaction assay, we determined the overall architecture of the IFT-B complex, which can be divided into core and peripheral subcomplexes composed of 10 and 6 subunits, respectively.
GO:0030992 intraciliary transport particle B
IPI
PMID:26980730
Overall Architecture of the Intraflagellar Transport (IFT)-B...
ACCEPT
Summary: Part of intraciliary transport particle B (IPI). IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex.
Reason: Membership of the IFT-B complex is the defining feature of IFT52 and is established biochemically (Chlamydomonas IFT-B core/peripheral fractionation; human VIP mapping) and structurally.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15955805
revealing a 500-kDa core that contains IFT88, IFT81, IFT74/72, IFT52, IFT46, and IFT27.
PMID:26980730
Using the visible immunoprecipitation assay, which we recently developed as a convenient protein-protein interaction assay, we determined the overall architecture of the IFT-B complex, which can be divided into core and peripheral subcomplexes composed of 10 and 6 subunits, respectively.
GO:0030992 intraciliary transport particle B
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Part of intraciliary transport particle B (ISS). IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex.
Reason: Membership of the IFT-B complex is the defining feature of IFT52 and is established biochemically (Chlamydomonas IFT-B core/peripheral fractionation; human VIP mapping) and structurally.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15955805
revealing a 500-kDa core that contains IFT88, IFT81, IFT74/72, IFT52, IFT46, and IFT27.
PMID:26980730
Using the visible immunoprecipitation assay, which we recently developed as a convenient protein-protein interaction assay, we determined the overall architecture of the IFT-B complex, which can be divided into core and peripheral subcomplexes composed of 10 and 6 subunits, respectively.
GO:0030992 intraciliary transport particle B
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Part of intraciliary transport particle B (ISS). IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex.
Reason: Membership of the IFT-B complex is the defining feature of IFT52 and is established biochemically (Chlamydomonas IFT-B core/peripheral fractionation; human VIP mapping) and structurally.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15955805
revealing a 500-kDa core that contains IFT88, IFT81, IFT74/72, IFT52, IFT46, and IFT27.
PMID:26980730
Using the visible immunoprecipitation assay, which we recently developed as a convenient protein-protein interaction assay, we determined the overall architecture of the IFT-B complex, which can be divided into core and peripheral subcomplexes composed of 10 and 6 subunits, respectively.
GO:0031514 motile cilium
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Located in motile cilium (ISS). IFT is also required to assemble motile cilia and flagella.
Reason: IFT is conserved in motile cilia and flagella (it was discovered in Chlamydomonas flagella), so the location is correct; it is kept as non-core because the core role reviewed here is assembly of cilia in general, with most human data from primary cilia.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:11062270
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a rapid movement of multi-subunit protein particles along flagellar microtubules and is required for assembly and maintenance of eukaryotic flagella.
GO:0032391 photoreceptor connecting cilium
IDA
PMID:31637240
SANS (USH1G) Molecularly Links the Human Usher Syndrome Prot...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Located in photoreceptor connecting cilium (IDA). IFT52 co-localizes with SANS at the ciliary base of mouse photoreceptors.
Reason: Correct cell-type-specific ciliary location. Non-core relative to the general IFT role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:31637240
Quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy revealed the co-localization of SANS with IFT20, IFT52, and IFT57 particularly at ciliary base of wild type mouse photoreceptor cells.
GO:0032391 photoreceptor connecting cilium
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Located in photoreceptor connecting cilium (IEA, GO_REF:0000107). Photoreceptor outer segments are modified primary cilia built and maintained by IFT through the connecting cilium.
Reason: Correct cell-type-specific ciliary location; retinal degeneration in patients with IFT52 variants is consistent with a requirement for IFT in photoreceptor cilia. Non-core relative to the general IFT role.
GO:0035720 intraciliary anterograde transport
IMP
PMID:27466190
IFT52 mutations destabilize anterograde complex assembly, di...
ACCEPT
Summary: Involved in intraciliary anterograde transport (IMP, PMID:27466190). IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex.
Reason: IFT-B forms the backbone of anterograde IFT trains that are moved from the ciliary base to the tip by heterotrimeric kinesin-2; IFT52 is an integral subunit of these trains.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:27466190
These data demonstrate that IFT52 is essential for anterograde complex integrity and for the biosynthesis and maintenance of cilia.
PMID:27466190
The IFT52 mutant cells synthesized a significantly reduced amount of IFT52 protein, leading to reduced synthesis of IFT74, IFT81, IFT88 and ARL13B, other key anterograde complex members.
GO:0035720 intraciliary anterograde transport
NAS
PMID:26980730
Overall Architecture of the Intraflagellar Transport (IFT)-B...
ACCEPT
Summary: Involved in intraciliary anterograde transport (NAS, PMID:26980730). IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex.
Reason: IFT-B forms the backbone of anterograde IFT trains that are moved from the ciliary base to the tip by heterotrimeric kinesin-2; IFT52 is an integral subunit of these trains.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:36354106
The IFT-B complex constitutes the backbone of polymeric IFT trains carrying cargo between the cilium and the cell body.
Reactome:R-HSA-5625416
Anterograde trains travel along the axoneme of the cilium at an estimated rate of 2 micrometers per second in an ATP- and kinesin-2-dependent fashion
GO:0036064 ciliary basal body
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Located at ciliary basal body (IEA, GO_REF:0000107). IFT complexes assemble into trains and are loaded at the ciliary base (basal body / transition fibres) before entering the cilium.
Reason: A large pool of IFT52 resides at the ciliary base, where IFT trains are assembled and where RABL2-mediated capture of IFT-B occurs; this is a well-documented location for IFT subunits.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28625565
GTP-bound RABL2 then binds to the IFT-B holocomplex via the IFT74/81 heterodimer to capture and trigger the entry of IFT-B into cilia, prior to classical motor-driven intraflagellar transport.
GO:0042073 intraciliary transport
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Involved in intraciliary transport (IBA). IFT52 is a core (IFT-B1) subunit of the IFT-B complex.
Reason: Intraciliary transport is the defining process of IFT complex subunits. The PAINT/IBA node placement is consistent with the conserved IFT machinery.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:11062270
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a rapid movement of multi-subunit protein particles along flagellar microtubules and is required for assembly and maintenance of eukaryotic flagella.
PMID:15955805
Anterograde movement of particles away from the cell body is mediated by kinesin-2, whereas retrograde movement away from the flagellar tip is powered by cytoplasmic dynein 1b/2.
GO:0044292 dendrite terminus
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Located in dendrite terminus (IEA, Ensembl Compara from mouse).
Reason: In sensory neurons (e.g. olfactory neurons) cilia emanate from the dendritic terminus/knob, so this reflects the ciliary base pool of IFT52 in neurons. Correct only in that cell-type context; non-core.
GO:0060271 cilium assembly
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Involved in cilium assembly (IBA, GO_REF:0000033).
Reason: IFT is required to build cilia; loss of IFT52 function impairs ciliogenesis or cilium structure in model organisms and/or patient cells. IFT52 participates directly as a component of the IFT machinery that delivers axonemal precursors, not merely as an upstream requirement.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:27466190
These data demonstrate that IFT52 is essential for anterograde complex integrity and for the biosynthesis and maintenance of cilia.
GO:0060271 cilium assembly
IMP
PMID:27466190
IFT52 mutations destabilize anterograde complex assembly, di...
ACCEPT
Summary: Involved in cilium assembly (IMP, PMID:27466190).
Reason: IFT is required to build cilia; loss of IFT52 function impairs ciliogenesis or cilium structure in model organisms and/or patient cells. IFT52 participates directly as a component of the IFT machinery that delivers axonemal precursors, not merely as an upstream requirement.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:27466190
These data demonstrate that IFT52 is essential for anterograde complex integrity and for the biosynthesis and maintenance of cilia.
GO:0060271 cilium assembly
NAS
PMID:26980730
Overall Architecture of the Intraflagellar Transport (IFT)-B...
ACCEPT
Summary: Involved in cilium assembly (NAS, PMID:26980730).
Reason: IFT is required to build cilia; loss of IFT52 function impairs ciliogenesis or cilium structure in model organisms and/or patient cells. IFT52 participates directly as a component of the IFT machinery that delivers axonemal precursors, not merely as an upstream requirement.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:27466190
These data demonstrate that IFT52 is essential for anterograde complex integrity and for the biosynthesis and maintenance of cilia.
GO:0097542 ciliary tip
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in ciliary tip (IEA). IFT trains are remodelled at the ciliary tip, where anterograde trains disassemble and retrograde trains assemble.
Reason: The ciliary tip is the turnaround compartment of IFT; IFT subunits transiently concentrate there. Correct location reflecting the IFT cycle.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5625421
anterograde IFT trains are believed to disassemble at the ciliary tip, releasing cargo and the IFT motors.
GO:0097542 ciliary tip
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-5624952
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in ciliary tip (TAS). IFT trains are remodelled at the ciliary tip, where anterograde trains disassemble and retrograde trains assemble.
Reason: The ciliary tip is the turnaround compartment of IFT; IFT subunits transiently concentrate there. Correct location reflecting the IFT cycle.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5624952
Remodelling of IFT trains is thought to occur at the ciliary tip
GO:0097542 ciliary tip
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-5625416
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in ciliary tip (TAS). IFT trains are remodelled at the ciliary tip, where anterograde trains disassemble and retrograde trains assemble.
Reason: The ciliary tip is the turnaround compartment of IFT; IFT subunits transiently concentrate there. Correct location reflecting the IFT cycle.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5625416
Anterograde trains travel along the axoneme of the cilium at an estimated rate of 2 micrometers per second in an ATP- and kinesin-2-dependent fashion
GO:0097542 ciliary tip
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-5625421
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in ciliary tip (TAS). IFT trains are remodelled at the ciliary tip, where anterograde trains disassemble and retrograde trains assemble.
Reason: The ciliary tip is the turnaround compartment of IFT; IFT subunits transiently concentrate there. Correct location reflecting the IFT cycle.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5625421
anterograde IFT trains are believed to disassemble at the ciliary tip, releasing cargo and the IFT motors.
GO:0097542 ciliary tip
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-5625426
ACCEPT
Summary: Located in ciliary tip (TAS). IFT trains are remodelled at the ciliary tip, where anterograde trains disassemble and retrograde trains assemble.
Reason: The ciliary tip is the turnaround compartment of IFT; IFT subunits transiently concentrate there. Correct location reflecting the IFT cycle.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-5625426
Retrograde trains are shorter than anterograde particles and travel along the cilliary axoneme at an estimated rate of 3 micrometers per second
GO:0097546 ciliary base
IDA
PMID:31637240
SANS (USH1G) Molecularly Links the Human Usher Syndrome Prot...
ACCEPT
Summary: Located at ciliary base (IDA) in mouse photoreceptors.
Reason: IFT52 concentrates at the ciliary base where IFT-B trains assemble.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:31637240
Quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy revealed the co-localization of SANS with IFT20, IFT52, and IFT57 particularly at ciliary base of wild type mouse photoreceptor cells.
GO:0097546 ciliary base
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Located at ciliary base (IEA, GO_REF:0000107). IFT complexes assemble into trains and are loaded at the ciliary base (basal body / transition fibres) before entering the cilium.
Reason: A large pool of IFT52 resides at the ciliary base, where IFT trains are assembled and where RABL2-mediated capture of IFT-B occurs; this is a well-documented location for IFT subunits.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28625565
GTP-bound RABL2 then binds to the IFT-B holocomplex via the IFT74/81 heterodimer to capture and trigger the entry of IFT-B into cilia, prior to classical motor-driven intraflagellar transport.
GO:0097733 photoreceptor cell cilium
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Located in photoreceptor cell cilium (IEA, GO_REF:0000107). Photoreceptor outer segments are modified primary cilia built and maintained by IFT through the connecting cilium.
Reason: Correct cell-type-specific ciliary location; retinal degeneration in patients with IFT52 variants is consistent with a requirement for IFT in photoreceptor cilia. Non-core relative to the general IFT role.

Core Functions

IFT52 is a structural hub of the IFT-B complex that bridges the two IFT-B1 subcomplexes and links IFT-B1 to IFT-B2; it is required for IFT-B integrity, anterograde IFT and ciliogenesis. No specific molecular-function term beyond complex scaffolding is established.

Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:28625565
    IFT52 is a critical bridge between the IFT-B1 to the IFT-B2 subcomplexes (Taschner et al., 2016), and also links two IFT-B1 subcomplexes (IFT81/74/22/27/25 and IFT88/70/52/46) (Taschner et al., 2014).
  • PMID:27466190
    These data demonstrate that IFT52 is essential for anterograde complex integrity and for the biosynthesis and maintenance of cilia.
  • PMID:27466190
    The IFT52 mutant cells synthesized a significantly reduced amount of IFT52 protein, leading to reduced synthesis of IFT74, IFT81, IFT88 and ARL13B, other key anterograde complex members.
  • file:human/IFT52/IFT52-deep-research-falcon.md
    Direct human genetics and knockout/rescue experiments strongly establish IFT52 as an IFT-B scaffold required for ciliary assembly and anterograde transport.
  • file:human/IFT52/IFT52-deep-research-falcon.md
    In human hTERT-RPE1 cells, IFT52 knockout eliminates detectable mother-centriole IFT88 and IFT38 and prevents ciliogenesis.

References

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Suggested Questions for Experts

Q: Which IFT52 interfaces (IFT88/IFT46 versus IFT57/IFT38) are disrupted by SRTD16 variants, and does loss of IFT-B1/IFT-B2 bridging explain the reduced levels of IFT74, IFT81 and IFT88 in patient cells?

Suggested Experiments

Experiment: Rescue of IFT52-knockout RPE1 cells with interface mutants (IFT46-, IFT88- and IFT57-binding) to test which contacts are needed for IFT-B stability, ciliary entry and ciliogenesis.

Deep Research

Falcon

(IFT52-deep-research-falcon.md)

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πŸ“š Additional Documentation

Notes

(IFT52-notes.md)

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