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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...
Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3 variants are also...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
07:14

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

Published on: September 20, 2019

Centrosome function: sometimes less is more.

Nasser M Rusan1, Gregory C Rogers

  • 1Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#3280, Coker Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. nasser@unc.edu

Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark)
|February 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Centrosome duplication is tightly regulated, with their function alternating between quiescence and activity. Variations in this functional cycle, particularly in Drosophila, are crucial for development and stem cell division.

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

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Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
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Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
07:14

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

Published on: September 20, 2019

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

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Centrosome duplication must occur once per cell cycle.
  • Centrosomes alternate between quiescent and active states, influencing microtubule nucleation and anchoring.
  • Centrosome maturation involves pericentriolar material (PCM) accumulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on variations in the functional cycle of centrosomes.
  • To explore how centrosome function is modulated to meet cellular needs.
  • To understand the implications of altered centrosome cycles in development and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent findings on centrosome functional cycles.
  • Analysis of centrosome behavior in vertebrate and Drosophila cells.
  • Examination of stem cell regulation and its link to centrosome dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Vertebrate interphase centrosomes have reduced MT nucleation capacity due to less PCM.
  • Drosophila centrioles lose PCM during interphase, enabling development without centrosomes.
  • Drosophila stem cells exhibit differential centriole regulation for asymmetric division.

Conclusions:

  • Functional cycles of centrosomes exhibit significant variations across species and cell types.
  • Modulation of centrosome function is essential for normal development and stem cell behavior.
  • Dysregulation of centrosome duplication in stem cells can contribute to tumor formation.