Centrosomes comprise two cylindrical centrioles embedded in the pericentriolar material (PCM). The PCM is an ordered assembly of large scaffolding molecules, providing an interaction platform for proteins involved in signalling, trafficking and most importantly microtubule nucleation and organization. In mitotic cells, centrosomes are located at the spindle poles, sites where spindle microtubules converge. However, certain cell types and organisms lack centrosomes, yet contain focused spindle poles, highlighting that despite their juxtaposition in cells, centrosomes and mitotic spindle poles are distinct physical entities. In the present paper, we discuss the origin of centrosomes and summarize their contribution to mitotic spindle assembly and cell division. We then describe the key molecular players that mediate centrosome attachment to mitotic spindle poles and explore why co-segregation of centrosomes and spindle poles into daughter cells is of potential benefit to organisms.
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February 2015
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Conference Article|
January 26 2015
Centrosomes and mitotic spindle poles: a recent liaison?
Pavithra L. Chavali;
Pavithra L. Chavali
1
*Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, U.K.
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Isabel Peset;
Isabel Peset
1
*Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, U.K.
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Fanni Gergely
Fanni Gergely
2
*Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, U.K.
2To whom correspondence should be addressed (emailFanni.Gergely@cruk.cam.ac.uk).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
October 06 2014
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2015 Biochemical Society
2015
Biochem Soc Trans (2015) 43 (1): 13–18.
Article history
Received:
October 06 2014
Citation
Pavithra L. Chavali, Isabel Peset, Fanni Gergely; Centrosomes and mitotic spindle poles: a recent liaison?. Biochem Soc Trans 1 February 2015; 43 (1): 13–18. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20140269
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