Ift70b is one of the genes related to the IFT-B complex in the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery. The IFT-B complex is crucial for anterograde ciliary protein trafficking, and ciliogenesis is an essential biological process it is associated with [1].

In Ift70-knockout (KO) studies, Ift70A and Ift70B double-KO cells did not form cilia, despite Ift70 being peripherally associated with the IFT-B complex via the IFT52-IFT88 dimer. Other IFT-B subunits assembled at the ciliary base in the absence of Ift70. Exogenous expression of either Ift70A or Ift70B could restore the ciliogenesis defect in Ift70-KO cells, indicating redundant roles. Deletion of certain structural elements of Ift70A, like the first tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) or the short helix (α36), reduced its interaction with the IFT52-IFT88 dimer and could not restore ciliogenesis in KO cells [1].

In conclusion, Ift70b, along with Ift70A, plays an essential role in ciliogenesis. The Ift70-KO models have revealed that its interaction with the IFT52-IFT88 dimer is crucial for this function. Understanding Ift70b's role in ciliogenesis may contribute to insights in ciliopathy-related disease areas [1].

References:

1. Takei, Ryota, Katoh, Yohei, Nakayama, Kazuhisa. 2018. Robust interaction of IFT70 with IFT52-IFT88 in the IFT-B complex is required for ciliogenesis. In Biology open, 7, . doi:10.1242/bio.033241. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29654116/