Basal bodies and centrioles: Their function and structure

Abstract

Publisher Summary The centriole is a darkly staining dot at the center of each mitotic aster and near the nucleus in interphase cells. The staining is observed at the center of the differentiated cytoplasm termed the “centrosome.” This chapter discusses the structure and function of centrioles and basal bodies. Centrioles can interconvert to basal bodies, which are needed for the assembly of cilia or flagella. Several examples demonstrate that basal bodies and centrioles are interchangeable. Centrioles play an essential role in mitosis. The structure of centrioles in various cell types and organelles is discussed. The structure of basal bodies is similar to that of centrioles. Both structures are highly conserved in a wide range of organisms. Basal bodies and centrioles have several appendages that are associated with the microtubules. The basal body undergoes a transition to double microtubules. Several microtubule structures are associated with basal bodies. The structure of Chlamydomonas is described, along with the role of basal bodies in flagellar assembly and the organization of interphase Chlamydomonas cells. Some other associated structures discussed are centrin, assemblin, Bap 95, and Bap90. The function of basal bodies and centrioles revealed by mutational analysis is also described.