Towards understanding centriole elimination

Abstract

Centrioles are microtubule-based structures crucial for forming flagella, cilia and centrosomes. Through these roles, centrioles are critical notably for proper cell motility, signalling and division. Recent years have advanced significantly our understanding of the mechanisms governing centriole assembly and architecture. Although centrioles are typically very stable organelles, persisting over many cell cycles, they can also be eliminated in some cases. Here, we review instances of centriole elimination in a range of species and cell types. Moreover, we discuss potential mechanisms that enable the switch from a stable organelle to a vanishing one. Further work is expected to provide novel insights into centriole elimination mechanisms in health and disease, thereby also enabling scientists to readily manipulate organelle fate.

A disease-associated PPP2R3C-MAP3K1 phospho-regulatory module controls centrosome function

“…An additional possibility is that MAP3K1 and PPP2R3C may contribute to centrosome inactivation and centriole elimination, such as during muscle differentiation or oocyte production. 61 With the tools and phenotypes defined here, these will be exciting areas for future study.…”

Comment on: ‘The proximal centriole age in spermatozoa is a potential reason for its different fate in the zygote after fertilization’ Uzbekov and Avidor-Reiss 2024

“…The article by Nils Kalbfuss & Pierre Gönczy [ 1 ] is devoted to one of the least explored issues of centrosome function in the cell—the mechanisms of centriole elimination. This commentary discusses previously described examples of such elimination and their significance for individual cells and animals as a whole in the context of reproduction.…”

“…What could be the reason for the irregular presence of canonical centrioles at the poles of the zygote spindle? The article by Kalbfuss & Gönczy [ 1 ] allowed us to propose a hypothetical explanation for this phenomenon. In cow oocytes, centrioles are completely absent, as in all previously studied mammals [ 5 , 6 ]; they are eliminated during the process of oogenesis; the mechanism of this elimination is not fully understood.…”

“…The mother centriole could have formed two, ten or even 50 cell cycles earlier! And during its life, this mother centriole could have accumulated different amounts of structural damage that can act as elimination factors in the zygote, as discussed in the article by Kalbfuss & Gönczy [ 1 ] ( figure 2 ).

Figure 2 Hypotheses on the fate of centrioles in oogenesis, spermatogenesis and embryogenesis of mammals.

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“…This fact may directly impact the proximal centriole fate after the sperm has been introduced into the zygote. If the proximal centriole has accumulated elimination factors (as described by Kalbfuss & Gönczy [ 1 ]) over its long life, then the mechanisms in the cytoplasm of the zygote can eliminate it.…”