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

Cell. 2003 Feb 21;112(4):575-87. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00117-x.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Centrioles / metabolism*
  • Centrosome / metabolism*
  • Centrosome / ultrastructure
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Freeze Fracturing
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Mitosis
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phenotype
  • Time Factors
  • Tubulin / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • SAS-4 protein, C elegans
  • Tubulin
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins