CGC Bibliography Paper 5739

SAS-4 is a C. elegans centriolar protein that controls centrosome size.

Kirkham M, Muller-Reichert T, Oegema K, Grill S, Hyman AA

Medline:

12600319

Citation:

Cell 112: 575-587 2003

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

sas-4 zyg-1 zyg-9

Abstract:

Centrosomes consist of a centriole pair surrounded by pericentriolar material (PCM). Previous work suggested that centrioles are required to organize PCM to form a structurally stable organelle. Here, we characterize SAS-4, a centriole component in Caenorhabditis elegans. Like tubulin, SAS-4 is incorporated into centrioles during their duplication and remains stably associated thereafter. In the absence of SAS-4, centriole duplication fails. Partial depletion of SAS-4 results in structurally defective centrioles that contain reduced levels of SAS-4 and organize proportionally less PCM. Thus, SAS-4 is a centriole-associated component whose amount dictates centrosome size. These results provide novel insight into the poorly understood role of centrioles as centrosomal organizers.