Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
09:41
Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
Published on: September 20, 2013
STIL is required for centriole duplication in human cells.
Julia Vulprecht1, Ahuvit David, Alexandra Tibelius
1Clinical Cooperation Unit Molecular Hematology/Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Dept. of Internal Medicine V, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Journal of Cell Science
|February 22, 2012
Summary
STIL is a crucial protein for centriole duplication in mammalian cells. Its absence prevents centriole formation and cilia development, highlighting its essential role in cell biology.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Centrioles are vital for centrosomes and primary cilia formation.
- Several proteins (PLK4, CPAP, SAS6, CEP192, CEP152, CEP135) are known to be essential for centriole duplication.
- STIL (SCL/TAL1 interrupting locus) is a centrosomal protein implicated in embryonic development and microcephaly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of STIL in centriole duplication and function.
- To determine STIL's localization and interactions within the cell.
- To assess the impact of STIL on primary cilia formation.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence microscopy to determine STIL localization.
- Overexpression and siRNA-mediated depletion of STIL.
- Analysis of centriole number and SAS6 recruitment.
- Interaction studies with CPAP.
- Assessment of primary cilia in Stil(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Main Results:
- STIL localizes to the pericentriolar material surrounding parental centrioles.
- STIL overexpression leads to excess centriole formation; STIL depletion results in centriole loss.
- STIL is required for PLK4-induced centriole overduplication and SAS6 recruitment.
- STIL interacts with CPAP and shuttles between the cytoplasm and centrioles.
- Stil(-/-) cells lack primary cilia, a phenotype reversible upon STIL restoration.
Conclusions:
- STIL is an essential component of the centriole replication machinery in mammalian cells.
- STIL plays a critical role in daughter centriole formation and is necessary for primary cilia assembly.
- STIL's function is tightly linked to other known centriole duplication factors like PLK4 and SAS6.
Related Concept Videos
02:25Centrosome 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...
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
02:25Centrosome 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...
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
01:13Centrioles 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,"...
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or "prometaphase,"...
02:40Chromosome Structure
A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
The centromere is a DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. This is also where kinetochores, protein complexes to which spindle microtubules attach, are constructed after the chromosome is replicated. The kinetochores allow the spindle microtubules to move the chromosomes within the cell during cell division.
Telomeres consist of non-coding repetitive nucleotide...
The centromere is a DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. This is also where kinetochores, protein complexes to which spindle microtubules attach, are constructed after the chromosome is replicated. The kinetochores allow the spindle microtubules to move the chromosomes within the cell during cell division.
Telomeres consist of non-coding repetitive nucleotide...
02:50Spindle 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...
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...
02:30Histone 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...