The centrosome cycle: Centriole biogenesis, duplication and inherent asymmetries

Abstract

Centrosomes are microtubule-organizing centres of animal cells. They influence the morphology of the microtubule cytoskeleton, function as the base for the primary cilium and serve as a nexus for important signalling pathways. At the core of a typical centrosome are two cylindrical microtubule-based structures termed centrioles, which recruit a matrix of associated pericentriolar material. Cells begin the cell cycle with exactly one centrosome, and the duplication of centrioles is constrained such that it occurs only once per cell cycle and at a specific site in the cell. As a result of this duplication mechanism, the two centrioles differ in age and maturity, and thus have different functions; for example, the older of the two centrioles can initiate the formation of a ciliary axoneme. We discuss spatial aspects of the centrosome duplication cycle, the mechanism of centriole assembly and the possible consequences of the inherent asymmetry of centrioles and centrosomes.

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

“…Centrioles are microtubule‐based cylindrical structures that display evolutionarily conserved ninefold symmetry (Azimzadeh & Marshall, 2010; Hirono, 2014; Winey & O'Toole, 2014). Centrosomes are important for organelle positioning, cell shape, polarity, and motility, as well as chromosome segregation and cell division (Nigg & Stearns, 2011; Bornens, 2012). In addition to their role in nucleating centrosome assembly, fully mature centrioles also function as basal bodies for the formation of cilia and flagella (Ishikawa & Marshall, 2011; Bornens, 2012).…”

Tankyrase 1 regulates centrosome function by controlling CPAP stability

“…Centrosome duplication is a highly regulated process whose accuracy is essential for genome integrity [2]. The process involves the formation of two new centrioles (procentrioles) next to the two preexisting parental centrioles during S phase of the cell cycle.…”

Generation and Characterization of a Tissue‐Specific Centrosome Indicator Mouse Line

“…2C,f). Once procentioles are formed from each centriole in S phase, each procentriole is elongated throughout S and G2 phase, resulting in structures containing four centrioles (Nigg and Stearns, 2011). Consistent with this centriole duplication cycle, four EGFP‐Centrin1 signals were seen in proximity at late S/G2 phase (Fig.…”

“…Distal appendages of mother centrioles function as basal bodies for primary cilia (Nigg and Stearns, 2011). To examine cilia, mouse tissue sections were immunostained with antibody to acetylated‐Tubulin, and stained with Phalloidin and DAPI.…”

“…Major obstacles to investigating centrosome dynamics are their small size. Centrosomes are constituted by a pair of two barrel‐shaped centrioles 0.5µm long, 0.2µm in diameter, and surrounded by a cloud of amorphorous pericentriolar matrix (PCM) (Nigg and Stearns, 2011; Bornens, 2012). …”