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Related Concept Videos

Centrioles and Centrosomes01:13

Centrioles and Centrosomes

Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or "prometaphase,"...
Centrosome Duplication02:25

Centrosome Duplication

The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
Centrosome Duplication02:25

Centrosome Duplication

The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
The Mitotic Spindle02:27

The Mitotic Spindle

The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...
The Mitotic Spindle02:27

The Mitotic Spindle

The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...
Spindle Assembly02:50

Spindle Assembly

Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a microtubule array...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Isolation and Fluorescence Imaging for Single-particle Reconstruction of Chlamydomonas Centrioles
10:38

Isolation and Fluorescence Imaging for Single-particle Reconstruction of Chlamydomonas Centrioles

Published on: September 21, 2018

What is the function of centrioles?

Wallace F Marshall1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. wmarshall@biochem.ucsf.edu

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
|November 23, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Centrioles are essential for building cellular structures like cilia, which act as antennae, and are crucial in many ciliary diseases. While important for mitosis, their absence doesn't always prevent cell division.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Centriole function has been debated, as they don't perform physiological activity directly.
  • Centrioles serve as scaffolds for building essential cellular structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the indispensable roles of centrioles in cellular architecture and function.
  • To investigate the link between centriole dysfunction and human diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on centriole biology.
  • Analysis of experimental data regarding mitosis and cilia formation.
  • Correlation of centriole-associated protein defects with ciliary disease phenotypes.

Main Results:

More Related Videos

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes
09:39

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes

Published on: December 20, 2014

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
09:41

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Published on: September 20, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Isolation and Fluorescence Imaging for Single-particle Reconstruction of Chlamydomonas Centrioles
10:38

Isolation and Fluorescence Imaging for Single-particle Reconstruction of Chlamydomonas Centrioles

Published on: September 21, 2018

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes
09:39

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes

Published on: December 20, 2014

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
09:41

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Published on: September 20, 2013

  • Centrioles are critical for the formation of centrosomes and cilia.
  • Centrioles are not obligatory for mitosis but influence spindle pole organization.
  • Defects in centriole-associated proteins are implicated in various ciliary diseases like Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

    • Conclusions:

    • Centrioles are indispensable for cilia assembly, highlighting their role in cellular signaling and development.
    • Centriole dysfunction is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of numerous human genetic disorders.
    • Further research into centriole biology is vital for understanding and treating ciliary diseases.