The New Nexin-Dynein Regulatory Complex Component CCDC153 Is Dispensable for Ciliary Motility and Fertility in Mice.

The nexin-dynein regulatory complex (N-DRC) is an essential axonemal structure for ciliary and flagellar motility. Coiled-coil domain containing 153 (CCDC153) has recently been identified as a new N-DRC component in Tetrahymena thermophila. However, the physiological function of its mammalian homolog remains unknown. Here, we generated a Ccdc153 knockout mouse model and explored its functional association with motile cilia. We found that CCDC153 was highly expressed in the motile cilia-abundant tissues and localized to the axonemal lumen in motile cilia. However, Ccdc153 knockout mice were viable and exhibited normal brain ventricles and fertility. Overall, our results suggest that CCDC153 is dispensable for ciliary motility in brain ventricles and sperm movement, indicating that CCDC153 is not a potential causative gene in human ciliopathies.