Autonomy declared by primary cilia through compartmentalization of membrane phosphoinositides.

The primary cilium is a cell surface projection from plasma membrane which transduces external stimuli to diverse signaling pathways. To function as an independent signaling organelle, the molecular composition of the ciliary membrane has to be distinct from that of the plasma membrane. Here, we review recent findings which have deepened our understanding of the unique yet dynamic phosphoinositide profile found in the primary cilia.