centrosomes

Interphase centrosomes flare up

Centrosomes undergo dramatic changes in size and structure during the rapid cell cycles of early Drosophila embryos. Lerit et al. reveal that a scaffold formed by the proteins centrosomin and PLP is required to maintain the activity of interphase centrosomes, which is essential for nuclear spacing and proper chromosome segregation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Lerit et al. from the July 6th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Dorothy Lerit and Nasser Rusan (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.

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Dynein helps centrioles stick together

Dynein has numerous functions in mitosis, but the function of the motor complex's light intermediate chains is poorly understood. Jones et al. reveal that dynein's light intermediate chains are required to maintain centrosome integrity during mitosis, preventing the premature separation of mother-daughter centrioles and the formation of multipolar spindles. This biosights episode presents the paper by Jones et al. from the November 24, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior authors, Viki Allan and Sarah Woolner (University of Manchester, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.

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The centrosome remains closely associated with the nucleus throughout the cell cycle. Bolhy et al. reveal that the nucleoporin Nup133 anchors a network of proteins, including the motor protein dynein, that tethers centrosomes to nuclear pores in early prophase to assist the early stages of mitotic spindle assembly. This biosights episode presents the paper by Bolhy et al. from the March 7, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Valérie Doye (Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.

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