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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,"...

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...

Histone Variants at the Centromere

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...

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

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

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Centrosome function in cancer: guilty or innocent?

Deborah Zyss¹, Fanni Gergely

¹Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.

Trends in Cell Biology

|July 3, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Centrosome abnormalities are common in cancer cells. Recent research suggests abnormal centrosomes may drive cancer by disrupting asymmetric cell division, not just genomic instability.

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Published on: March 3, 2016

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Cancer Research
Genetics

Background:

Centrosome number and function are crucial for proper cell division and maintaining genetic stability.
Cancer cells frequently display centrosome abnormalities.
The conventional model links centrosome dysfunction to genomic instability and cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current understanding of centrosome regulation and its deregulation in disease.
To explore the link between centrosome function, asymmetric cell division, and tumorigenesis.
To discuss the emerging idea that abnormal centrosomes drive cancer through altered cell division.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent advances in centrosome biology.
Analysis of observational and experimental evidence regarding centrosome function in cancer.
Discussion of theoretical models linking centrosome abnormalities to disease.

Main Results:

While observational data support the link between centrosome dysfunction and genomic instability, experimental evidence is limited.
Recent studies indicate a direct connection between centrosome function in asymmetric cell division and tumor formation.
The conventional model is challenged by findings suggesting a novel role for centrosomes in tumorigenesis.

Conclusions:

Abnormal centrosomes may promote cancer not solely through genomic instability, but by deregulating asymmetric cell division.
This challenges the traditional view and highlights a new avenue for understanding cancer development.
Further research is needed to experimentally validate the role of centrosome-mediated asymmetric cell division in specific cancers.