Mechanisms of centriole assembly
2014
Pierre Gonczy
Summary of the science
Centrioles are typically found in a specific region of the cell called the centrosome. They help organise cellular components and play a crucial role in cell division, whereby one cell becomes two. They act as anchors for cellular structures and help distribute the genetic material during division, so each cell gets the same amount. These genetic instructions are responsible for an organism's growth, development, and functioning. Centriole assembly refers to the process by which new centrioles are formed. Centrioles are tiny cylindrical structures and are shaped like a wheel with nine arms. Each of these nine arms are made up of 3 microtubules, which are long, hollow rods. Pierre Gonczy's lab have discovered that a protein called SAS-6 plays a key role in organising these arms.
About the research
Pierre Gonczy's lab is interested in unravelling the fundamental cellular processes, with a particular focus on development. Their primary research involves studying C. elegans and human cells, although they also explore other systems when appropriate. Their main area of investigation revolves around understanding the mechanisms governing asymmetric division and centriole assembly. They found that a protein called SAS-6 forms rod-shaped homodimers that interact via their N-terminal domains to form oligomers, which enables centriole assembly. Additionally, they constructed a model of a related protein, Bld12p, revealing how nine pairs assemble into a ring with extending rods, resembling the central hub of the cartwheel. These findings provide insights into the structural basis for the universal 9-fold symmetry of centrioles.
About the illustration
To show the initial assembly of the centrioles, we illustrated all components coming together to from the first 'layer', including the microtubules (white) and the SAS-6 homodimers (black).