Identification of dynein heavy chain 7 as an inner arm component of human cilia that is synthesized but not assembled in a case of primary ciliary dyskinesia

Although the basic structure of the axoneme has been highly conserved throughout evolution, the varied functions of specialized axonemes require differences in structure and regulation. Cilia lining the respiratory tract propel mucus along airway surfaces, providing a critical function to the defense mechanisms of the pulmonary system, yet little is known of their molecular structure. We have identified and cloned a dynein heavy chain that is a component of the inner dynein arm. Bronchial epithelial cells were obtained from normal donors and from a patient with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) whose cilia demonstrated an absence of inner dynein arms by electron microscopy. Cilia from normal and PCD cells were compared by gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry was used to identify DNAH7 as a protein absent in PCD cilia. The full-length DNAH7 cDNA was cloned and shares 68% similarity with an inner arm dynein heavy chain from Drosophila. DNAH7 was induced during ciliated cell differentiation, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of DNAH7 in normal cilia. In cilia from PCD cells, DNAH7 was undetectable, whereas intracellular DNAH7 was clearly present. These studies identify DNAH7 as an inner arm component of human cilia that is synthesized but not assembled in a case of PCD.