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Related Concept Videos

Centrioles and Centrosomes01:13

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,"...
Centrosome Duplication02:25

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 Duplication02:25

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...
Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

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...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining 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...
Spindle Assembly02:50

Spindle 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
09:41

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Published on: September 20, 2013

Centrosome positioning in vertebrate development.

Nan Tang1, Wallace F Marshall

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Cardiovascular Research Institute, The University of California, San Francisco, USA. tangnan@nibs.ac.cn

Journal of Cell Science
|January 2, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Centrosome positioning is crucial for animal development, influencing cell shape, migration, and tissue formation. Understanding these microtubule organizers reveals their vital roles in vertebrate organogenesis.

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Last Updated: May 15, 2026

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Published on: February 28, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Centrosomes organize microtubules, impacting cell shape, polarity, and intracellular transport.
  • They are essential for animal development, regulating cell migration, neurite outgrowth, and spindle orientation.
  • Recent advances have accelerated discoveries in centrosome structure, composition, and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review centrosome and centriole positioning in vertebrate development.
  • To discuss the roles of centrosome positioning, the cues influencing it, and the response mechanisms.
  • To highlight the extended functions of centrosomes in vertebrate tissue and organ development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on centrosome positioning studies.
  • Emphasis on vertebrate developmental systems.
  • Analysis of functional studies linking centrosome behavior to morphogenesis and cell fate.

Main Results:

  • Centrosome positioning is critical for polarized cell behaviors during development.
  • Specific cues and molecular mechanisms govern centrosome positioning.
  • Centrosome function extends beyond basic cell biology to complex tissue and organ development.

Conclusions:

  • Centrosome positioning is a key regulatory mechanism in vertebrate development.
  • Further research into centrosome dynamics will illuminate developmental processes.
  • Centrosomes play indispensable roles in morphogenesis and organogenesis.