TRiC folds the giant ciliary protein IFT172 via a non-canonical open-state mechanism

Abstract

The eukaryotic chaperonin TRiC/CCT is essential for folding complex proteins, yet how it folds substrates that exceed its closed chamber capacity remains a longstanding paradox. Here, we define the folding pathway of IFT172, the largest subunit ([~]200 kDa) of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery, and uncover a "divide-and-conquer" mechanism. TRiC and HSP70 engage IFT172 concurrently but on distinct domains: TRiC captures the N-terminal WD40 {beta}-propellers within its chamber, whereas HSP70 independently stabilizes the C-terminal TPR domain in the cytosol. To accommodate this oversized client, specific TRiC subunits (CCT4, CCT2, and CCT7) undergo pronounced Z-shaped outward bending, thereby expanding the chamber. Unexpectedly, the first WD40 domain reaches a near-folded state within the open, ATP-bound chamber, and subsequent TRiC ring closure triggers substrate ejection rather than encapsulation. This non-canonical "fold-and-eject" mechanism challenges the classical view that the closed chamber is an obligate folding cage. We further demonstrate that this pathway is essential for ciliary functions in vivo, and reveal a conserved mode of chaperonin recognition among IFT components bearing tandem WD40-TPR architectures. Together, our findings establish a new paradigm for the folding of oversized, multi-domain proteins and identify TRiC as a central proteostasis hub in ciliary biogenesis, with direct implications for ciliopathy pathogenesis.