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Related Experiment Video

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Preparation and Cryo-FIB micromachining of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Cryo-Electron Tomography

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Published on: November 20, 2021

Procentriole assembly revealed by cryo-electron tomography.

Paul Guichard¹, Denis Chrétien, Sergio Marco

¹Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, Orsay, France.

The EMBO Journal

|March 27, 2010

Summary

Human centrosome duplication involves new insights into procentriole assembly. The gamma tubulin ring complex (gamma-TuRC) nucleates microtubule growth, guiding centriole duplication.

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Structural Biology

Background:

Centrosomes organize the microtubule network.
Centriole duplication is essential but poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the structural mechanisms of human procentriole assembly.
To understand the initial steps of centriole duplication.

Main Methods:

Cryo-electron tomography was used to visualize human centrosomes.
Analysis of isolated human lymphoblast centrosomes.

Main Results:

Observed independent growth of nine microtubule triplets around a central structure.
Identified a conical cap on the A-microtubule proximal end.
Elucidated bidirectional elongation of B- and C-microtubules templated by the A-microtubule.

Conclusions:

The gamma tubulin ring complex (gamma-TuRC) nucleates A-microtubule formation.
A-microtubule serves as a template for B- and C-microtubule elongation.
Provides a nanometric-scale basis for understanding centriole duplication mechanisms.