Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Centrosome

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Cancer

  • 113 Accesses

Synonyms

Major microtubule organizing center; MTOC; SPB; Spindle pole body

Definition

The centrosome is a nonmembranous organelle (1–2 μm in diameter) normally localized at the periphery of nucleus, and its primary function is to nucleate and anchor microtubules.

Characteristics

Structure and Function

The centrosome in mammalian cells consists of a pair of centrioles and the surrounding protein aggregates consisting of a number of different proteins (known as pericentriolar material; PCM). The centrioles in the pair structurally differ from each other; one with a set of appendages at the distal ends (mother centriole) and another without appendages (daughter centriole). These appendages are believed to be important for nucleating and anchoring microtubules. The daughter centriole acquires the appendages in late G2-phase of the cell cycle. As the primary function of the centrosome is to nucleate and anchor microtubules, centrosomes organize the cytoplasmic microtubule network during...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bennett RA, Izumi H, Fukasawa K (2004) Induction of centrosome amplification and chromosome instability in p53-null cells by transient exposure to sub-toxic levels of S-phase targeting anti-cancer drugs. Oncogene 23:6823–6829

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deng CX (2002) Roles of BRCA1 in centrosome duplication. Oncogene 21:6222–6227

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fukasawa K (2005) Centrosome amplification, chromosome instability and cancer development. Cancer Lett 230:6–19

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hinchcliffe EH, Sluder G (2002) Two for two: Cdk2 and its role in centrosome doubling. Oncogene 21:6154–6160

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tarapore P, Fukasawa K (2002) Loss of p53 and centrosome hyperamplification. Oncogene 21:6234–6240

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL, 33612-9416, USA

    Kenji Fukasawa

Authors
  1. Kenji Fukasawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenji Fukasawa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Fukasawa, K. (2014). Centrosome. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_1029-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_1029-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation