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Dissecting the Centrosome Positioning Pathway
Author(s) -
Feldman Jessica Lynn,
Marshall Wallace F
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a494-d
Subject(s) - centrosome , centriole , microbiology and biotechnology , centrosome cycle , chlamydomonas , biology , mitosis , chlamydomonas reinhardtii , flagellum , spindle pole body , mutant , cell division , spindle apparatus , cell , genetics , cell cycle , gene
Although originally named for its central location within the cell, the centrosome often resides in more peripheral locations. Relocation of the centrosome within the cell, for example, during wound healing or migration, requires the shuttling of the centrosome to specific locations. Furthermore, centrioles, the core of the centrosome, also need to be targeted to specific cellular sites. In the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , centrioles must be shuttled apically following mitosis in order to make flagella. To understand how a centrosome is specifically positioned within a cell, we have employed a novel screen in Chlamydomonas . This screen takes advantage of the fact that properly positioned centrioles are required in order for cells to phototax. We have screened 10,000 lines for phototaxis defects and have uncovered a number of interesting mutants that have defects in centriolar assembly and number. In addition, we have also uncovered a class of mutants, termed askew (asq), in which the centrioles are mislocalized within the cell. In asq mutants, centrioles lose their characteristic apical localization and are instead shifted more laterally. Characterization of these mutants has helped us gain insight into the molecular mechanism by which centrosomes are properly localized and has revealed the extent of the instructive role of the centrosome in determining cellular geometry.