Mutations in polycystins cause to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most common genetic inheritant kidney disease. Although the functions of polycystins are critical to ADPKD progression, the details are still under debate. Here, we analyzed the fundamental functions of polycystins using a novel model system based on fission yeast. Fission yeast has a putative polycystin protein, Pkd2, whose gene deletion led to lethality.
Koyano et al. (2026) studied this question.