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Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes
Published on: December 20, 2014
Plk4-induced centriole biogenesis in human cells
Julia Kleylein-Sohn1, Jens Westendorf, Mikael Le Clech
1Department of Cell Biology, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
Abstract:
We show that overexpression of Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4) in human cells induces centrosome amplification through the simultaneous generation of multiple procentrioles adjoining each parental centriole. This provided an opportunity for dissecting centriole assembly and characterizing assembly intermediates. Critical components were identified and ordered into an assembly pathway through siRNA and localized through immunoelectron microscopy. Plk4, hSas-6, CPAP, Cep135, gamma-tubulin, and CP110 were required at different stages of procentriole formation and in association with different centriolar structures. Remarkably, hSas-6 associated only transiently with nascent procentrioles, whereas Cep135 and CPAP formed a core structure within the proximal lumen of both parental and nascent centrioles. Finally, CP110 was recruited early and then associated with the growing distal tips, indicating that centrioles elongate through insertion of alpha-/beta-tubulin underneath a CP110 cap. Collectively, these data afford a comprehensive view of the assembly pathway underlying centriole biogenesis in human cells.
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