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Microtubules in Signaling

Microtubules in Signaling

The primary cilium, made up of microtubules, acts as antennae on the cell surfaces for relaying external stimuli into the cells. These fine hair-like structures are present, generally one per cell. These are non-motile cilia in a 9+0 microtubules arrangement, where the central pair of microtubules are absent. The primary cilia arise from the basal body embedded in the cell membrane. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) carries requisite proteins from the cytoplasm to the cilium because the primary...

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,"...

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

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The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...

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...

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Using Primary Neurosphere Cultures to Study Primary Cilia

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Published on: April 14, 2017

The primary cilium: a signalling centre during vertebrate development.

Sarah C Goetz¹, Kathryn V Anderson

¹Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10065, USA.

Nature Reviews. Genetics

|April 17, 2010

Summary

The primary cilium is vital for vertebrate development and human genetic diseases. This organelle acts as a signaling nexus, crucial for developmental signals and linked to hedgehog pathway transduction.

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Volumetric Imaging and Analysis of Primary Cilia in Musculoskeletal Tissue using the ARL13B-CENTRIN-2 Mouse Model

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Genetics

Background:

The primary cilium, a cellular organelle, is increasingly recognized for its critical roles.
Dysfunction of cilia is linked to various human genetic diseases.
Cilia are essential for responding to developmental signals.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of the primary cilium in vertebrate development.
To investigate the connection between cilia and human genetic disorders.
To understand the primary cilium's function in signal transduction pathways.

Main Methods:

Review of recent data on primary cilia.
Analysis of the role of cilia in developmental signaling.
Examination of the link between cilia and hedgehog signal transduction.

Main Results:

Primary cilia play crucial roles in vertebrate development.
The primary cilium is specialized for hedgehog signal transduction.
Cilia formation is regulated by signaling pathways like planar cell polarity.

Conclusions:

The primary cilium acts as a central hub for signaling pathways during development.
Understanding cilia-signaling interactions clarifies the basis of ciliary dysfunction diseases.
Primary cilia are key to developmental processes and disease etiology.