Deciphering How Cells Count: Molecular Control of Centrosome Copy Number

Abstract

The centrosome is a non‐membranous cellular organelle that is critical for accurate chromosome segregation and cell signaling. Defects in centrosome biogenesis are responsible for developmental disorders, chromosome segregation errors, and have been strongly linked with tumorigenesis. Aside from chromosomes, centrosomes are the only other cellular structure whose number is precisely controlled. This faithful control of centrosome number is deregulated in a wide array of tumor types where it disrupts mitosis by promoting chromosome segregation errors. These errors drive the genomic instability and rapid evolution characteristic of cancer. Our research focuses on deducing the engineering principles that allow cells to “count” the number of centrosomes produced in each cell cycle. The insights gained have implications for our understanding of cellular homeostasis and how the centrosome function may be manipulated for human benefit.