Mechanisms of centrosome reduplication during interphase arrest

Wednesday, October 10, 2012 — Poster Session II
Noon – 2:00 p.m	Natcher Conference Center, Building 45	NCI	CELLBIO-6

Authors

• D. Kong
• J. Loncarek

Abstract

The centrosomes are the major microtubule organizing centers in cycling vertebrate cells. They are small non-membranous organelles present in exactly two copies per cell and are comprised of microtubule-based structures called centrioles and the surrounding pericentriolar matrix (PCM). The number of centrioles in each cell determines the number of centrosomes. The presence of supernumerary centrosomes in cycling cells causes the formation of multiple mitotic poles. This in turn, increases the probability of chromosome miss-segregation. Duplication of centrioles is a stringently regulated process assuring that only two centrioles (either duplicated or unduplicated), are present within a cell at any point of the cell cycle. Supernumerary centrioles can arise after perturbations of normal cell physiology by many agents and events such as viral infections, DNA-damaging compounds, deregulation of gene expression, or mitotic defects. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of centriole reduplication in human cells. We found that centriole reduplication during S and G2 arrest requires Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1). The aim is to identify key structural and molecular centrosomal modifications associated with the centriole reduplication process. In our research we are using a multipronged approach combining high end live- cell imaging techniques, correlative light/electron microscopy, and biochemical methods.

back to top