A Review of Centriole Activity, and Wrongful Activity, during Cell Division

Abstract

This is a review paper on centriole behavior and their role in enabling cell division and duplication. The paper is based primarily on articles published in this, the 21 st century. Following a description of centriole geometry, the paper discusses centriole duplication and the ensuring events leading to cell division. From a structural perspective each centriole is seen to be a cylindrical composition of nine blades, each having three microtubules which are themselves hollow cylinders approximately 400 nm long, with inner and outer diameters of 15 and 25 nm. The paper then discusses the nucleation of these microtubules. The paper concludes with a description of centriole malfunction and overduplication (supernumerary centrioles), leading to clusters of centrioles -a hallmark of cancer cells. These centriole clusters thus form "biomarkers" for tumor imaging and treatment.

A Real-Life Picture of the Origin of a Tumor

“…This process has been studied for many years. References [1]- [6] document these efforts. Looking closer at the centriole pair, we see that one centriole is slightly longer than the other and that the shorter one is attached at the side of the base of the longer one.…”

Nanoparticle Treatment of Cancer

“…If a duplication problem occurs, the cell often dies. But on occasion the problem can lead to uncontrolled duplication, tumorigenesis, and even cancer [3]. The duplication problem occurs with geometric distortion or over-duplication of centrioles -small perpendicular hollow cylinders lying adjacent to the cell nucleus [4].…”

A New Exposition on Cell Division

“…The geometry leads these to be known as "mother" and "daughter" centrioles. See Figure 2 and Reference [4]. Reference [4] and its references provide additional details about centrioles.…”