The Fascinating Process of Human Centriole Assembly

Wednesday - April 17 2024, 20:29 UTC - 7 months ago

Using expansion microscopy and kinematic reconstruction, UNIGE scientists have successfully visualized the assembly of the human centriole for the first time. This organelle, which is critical for cellular function, is made up of around 100 proteins arranged into six domains. This approach has not only provided a detailed look at the process of centriole formation, but also paves the way for studying other organelles.

Cells are complex structures that contain various specialized components known as organelles. These organelles play important roles in cellular function and their dysfunction can lead to numerous pathologies. One such organelle is the human centriole, which is essential for the organization of the cell skeleton. Yet, until recently, the process of centriole assembly has remained largely elusive. Thanks to the combination of high resolution microscopy and kinematic reconstruction techniques, researchers at the University of Geneva have now been able to visualize this process in detail.

The human centriole is a tiny structure, measuring less than 500 nanometers, and is made up of around 100 different proteins that are arranged into six substructural domains. This complexity has made it difficult to obtain clear images of the centriole, let alone understand the order in which the proteins are recruited during its formation. However, using the technique of expansion microscopy, the researchers were able to inflate cells and their components without distorting them, allowing for the visualization of the centriole with unprecedented resolution.

But simply having high resolution images was not enough. To truly understand the process of centriole assembly, the researchers needed to know the sequence of protein recruitment. This is where kinematic reconstruction came into play. By meticulously analyzing the location of 24 proteins in over a thousand centrioles at different stages of growth, then using computer analysis to put these images in chronological order, the team was able to reconstruct the various stages of centriole formation.

This groundbreaking approach has provided a better understanding of the role of various proteins in the structure and function of the centriole. It has also opened up new possibilities for studying other cell organelles and their assembly mechanisms. The findings of this study have been published in the journal Cell, and have shed new light on the complexities of centriole assembly.