Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
07:06
Live-Cell Imaging of Drosophila melanogaster Third Instar Larval Brains
Published on: June 23, 2023
Centrosome asymmetry and inheritance during animal development.
Laurence Pelletier1, Yukiko M Yamashita
1Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada. pelletier@lunenfeld.ca
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|June 12, 2012
Summary
Centrosomes organize microtubules, impacting cell division and migration. This review explores recent findings on mother-daughter centriole/centrosome asymmetries and their role in cell development.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Centrosomes are key microtubule-organizing centers.
- They play vital roles in cell division, migration, and polarization.
- Emerging evidence highlights asymmetries within centrosomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent discoveries concerning centriole and centrosome asymmetries.
- To discuss the implications of these asymmetries in cell division and development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on centrosome and centriole biology.
- Analysis of research on asymmetry inheritance patterns.
Main Results:
- Significant asymmetries exist between mother and daughter centrioles/centrosomes.
- These asymmetries are implicated in various cellular and developmental processes.
- Inheritance patterns of these asymmetries are crucial for cellular functions.
Conclusions:
- Centrosome and centriole asymmetries are fundamental to cellular organization and function.
- Understanding these asymmetries provides insights into cell division and developmental mechanisms.
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,"...
02:13Determining the Plane of Cell Division
Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function.
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
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...
01:39Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
In 1866, Gregor Mendel published the results of his pea plant breeding experiments, providing evidence for predictable patterns in the inheritance of physical characteristics. The significance of his findings was not immediately recognized. In fact, the existence of genes was unknown at the time. Mendel referred to hereditary units as “factors.”