Centrosome function and assembly in animal cells

Abstract

It has become clear that the role of centrosomes extends well beyond that of important microtubule organizers. There is increasing evidence that they also function as coordination centres in eukaryotic cells, at which specific cytoplasmic proteins interact at high concentrations and important cell decisions are made. Accordingly, hundreds of proteins are concentrated at centrosomes, including cell cycle regulators, checkpoint proteins and signalling molecules. Nevertheless, several observations have raised the question of whether centrosomes are essential for many cell processes. Recent findings have shed light on the functions of centrosomes in animal cells and on the molecular mechanisms of centrosome assembly, in particular during mitosis. These advances should ultimately allow the in vitro reconstitution of functional centrosomes from their component proteins to unlock the secrets of these enigmatic organelles.

Quantitative analysis of human centrosome architecture by targeted proteomics and fluorescence imaging

“…Centrosomes are the major microtubule organizing centers of animal cells and typically comprise two centrioles embedded in a matrix of pericentriolar proteins (PCM) (Gonczy, 2012; Conduit et al , 2015). Centrioles are microtubule‐based cylindrical structures that display evolutionarily conserved ninefold symmetry (Azimzadeh & Marshall, 2010; Hirono, 2014; Winey & O'Toole, 2014).…”

Microtubule nucleation and organization in dendrites

“…20 Plp promotes the association of Cnn with the Golgi outpost, 20 similar to its recruitment and organization roles at the centrosome. 52 At the centrosome the PCM recruits and concentrates g-tubulin for microtubule nucleation. 52 However, no increase in g-tubulin has been observed at either somatic or dendritic Golgi, 50 and removing Golgi outposts from dendrites using activated kinesin constructs did not disrupt g-tubulin localization.…”

“…52 At the centrosome the PCM recruits and concentrates g-tubulin for microtubule nucleation. 52 However, no increase in g-tubulin has been observed at either somatic or dendritic Golgi, 50 and removing Golgi outposts from dendrites using activated kinesin constructs did not disrupt g-tubulin localization. 55 Thus the microtubule nucleation machinery associated with Golgi outposts may not function through the same g-tubulin recruitment mechanism as the PCM.…”

“…During cell division, Pericentrin/AKAP450 (Pericentrin-like protein (Plp) in Drosophila) and CDK5RAP2 (Centrosomin (Cnn) in Drosophila) cooperate to recruit g-TuRC to the pericentriolar material (PCM) surrounding the centrosome. 52 53,54 In Drosophila sensory neurons, Cnn and Plp link microtubule nucleation to Golgi outposts. 20,35 AKAP450/Plp and CDK5RAP2/Cnn localize to somatic Golgi, 50 and Cnn localizes to Golgi outposts in Drosophila sensory neurons.…”

Genomic heterogeneity meets cellular energetics: crosstalk between the mitochondria and the cell cycle

“…It is now understood that the cell cycle involves more than duplication and segregation of DNA. During a cell cycle cells must also grow and segregate their organelles and other cellular structures [57][58][59] . This duplication of the genome and increase in cell biomass, followed by the complex division of all cell contents to form two fully functional daughter cells requires a large amount of energy and metabolites.…”