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Centrosome Duplication

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 Duplication

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...

Centrioles and Centrosomes

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,"...

Spindle Assembly

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...

Distribution of Cytoplasmic Content

Distribution of Cytoplasmic Content

Cytokinesis segregates a cell’s chromosomes and organelles into its daughter cells. Organelles divide and grow prior to cell division but cannot be synthesized de novo; therefore, cells must receive at least one copy of each organelle to survive. Currently, many of the details of how the organelles are distributed are not yet fully elucidated.
Distribution of cytoplasmic determinants
The cytoplasm contains various organelles, as well as salts, proteins, and water. The distribution of small...

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

As cells progress into mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the condensed chromosomes are exposed to the array of bipolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore, a large, disc-shaped protein complex, is present at the centromere region of the sister chromatids and acts as a binding site for the microtubules. Usually, the plus-end of a single microtubule is embedded within the kinetochore. However, some kinetochores first establish lateral contact with the side-wall of a...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Published on: September 20, 2013

Centrioles: duplicating precariously.

Laurence Pelletier¹

¹Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. pelletier@mshri.on.ca

Current Biology : CB

|September 7, 2007

Summary

Cell division requires precise control of centrosome number, mainly through centriole duplication. Overexpressing centriolar proteins can create new centrioles without existing ones, challenging self-replication.

Area of Science:

Cell biology
Molecular biology
Genetics

Background:

Accurate chromosome segregation during cell division relies on a precisely regulated number of centrosomes.
Centrosome duplication, specifically centriole duplication, is a key process for maintaining the correct centrosome number.
The prevailing model suggests centrioles are self-replicating organelles.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanisms governing centriole duplication.
To challenge the existing model of centriole self-replication.
To explore the role of centriolar proteins in de novo centriole formation.

Main Methods:

Overexpression of specific centriolar proteins in cell culture models.
Microscopic analysis to observe centriole formation and number.

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Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

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Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Published on: September 20, 2013

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Published on: September 20, 2019

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

Genetic manipulation to control protein levels.

Main Results:

Overexpression of certain centriolar proteins induced the formation of new centrioles.
This de novo centriole formation occurred even in the absence of pre-existing centrioles.
The findings suggest a non-canonical pathway for centriole biogenesis.

Conclusions:

Centriole duplication is not solely dependent on pre-existing centrioles.
Centriolar proteins play a critical role in initiating centriole assembly.
The current understanding of centriole replication requires revision.