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Cell Project Report

Centriole

Jay Peeler

Core - 3

2/20/2017

Remaining one of the most mysterious organelles, the centriole was discovered by
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Edouard Van Beneden in 1883, and was later described by Theodor Boveri in 1888.

Dictionary.com defines this inexplicable organelle as, “a small, cylindrical cell organelle, seen

near the nucleus in the cytoplasm of most eukaryotic cells, that divides in perpendicular fashion

during mitosis, the new pair of centrioles moving ahead of the spindle to opposite poles of the

cell as the cell divides: identical in internal structure to a basal body.” While not as well known

as the mitochondria, the centriole is still an extremely important component of the cell.

Found in the centrosome, the organelle is composed of microtubules arranged in 9

groups of 3. These sets of tubes create an outer wall, forming a cylindrical shape. When the

centrioles are close to one another, they are found usually at a right angle. Even though the

composition may seem simple, the microtubules have to be arranged in a systematic way for it to

be in the correct shape. Overall, it has a similar look to a basal body.

The centriole is an extremely important part of the centrosome. While not completing the

task of division, the organelle resides here during interphase. During which, the centrosome will

duplicate and moves to both sides of nucleus with the pairs of centrioles. When the mitotic

spindles, which I will mention later, begin to form they will connect between the duplicated pair,

making chromosomes.

Found only in animal cells, not plant cells, centrioles help with the process of cell

division, or mitosis/meiosis. Not only do they create many things needed for the division, but

they also help organize and manage the microtubules during division. When the cell division is

about to begin, the organelle moves to opposite sides of the nucleus. For fear of being alone, the

centrioles are always found in pairs, so during this period you can see four, two on each sides of

the nucleus. However, you can only see them during division. Although there are four during this

phase, it is important to know that when the cell is not dividing, there are only two. During
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prophase, which is the time when the cell is active or dividing, the organelle duplicates. In

interphase, you may be able to see condensed and darker areas of the cytoplasm, which is the

centrosome.

Biology4kids.com states that, “during division, you may also see groups of threads

attached to the centrioles. Those threads are called the mitotic spindle.” Mitotic spindles, which

are macromolecules, are composed mainly of microtubules polymers. Also known as spindle

fibers, these macromolecules are a significant part to all cells. They conduct the separation of

chromosomes into two daughter cells, first appearing as asters. Asters are star shaped

microtubules that form around the centrioles during separation. These help with manipulating the

chromosomes to ensure the daughter cell has a correct amount. While the mitotic spindles may

not be exactly asters, these two pieces go hand in hand during separation. The mitotic spindles

extend from both centrosomes, which separate centriole pairs and elongates the cell.

During prophase, the first phase of division, the mitotic spindles connect to the now

visible chromosomes. After these threads have connected to the chromosomes, the cell goes into

a process called anaphase, during which the chromosomes are split and then pull toward each

centriole. Once this process is complete and the entire cell begins to split, another process called

telophase will begin. During this phase, the chromosomes will begin to unravel and and new

nuclear envelope will begin to appear. After all these tasks are complete, the centrioles have

completed their job and go to rest. This means that the organelles have gone back into interphase.

This may be why they are so mysterious to us, scientists cannot study the organelle while cell

division is not taking place.

Even though we mostly think of division when we hear centrioles, these organelles are

also given the responsibility of conducting ciliogenesis. This is the formation of cilia and flagella
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on cell surfaces. This is an exceedingly important process due to the fact that cilia and flagella

help the cell move, however the centriole does not conduct most of this production. In the

beginning, the organelle is needed to create the basal bodies needed for the cilia and flagella,

which is still an important aspect to ciliogenesis.

While the centriole is one of the main parts of all cells, recent studies have proven that we

may not need the centriole. Authors of the article Centrioles: active players or passengers during

mitosis? Alain Debec, William Sullivan, and Monica Bettencourt-Dias state, “However, a variety

of subsequent observational and functional studies showed that centrosomes (centrioles) might

not always be essential for mitosis.” While the spindles may have once been seen as “the organ

for cell division” that idea is now being debated. The centriole is there mostly just to make sure

that the daughter cells get the correct amount of chromosomes. It is proven that the organelle is

not need to create the chromosomes. However, while they may not be needed for division,

almost all animals need cilia and flagella. So it can be debated that we do need them, however

animals, such as flatworms, do not contain cilia and flagella. Flatworms have no real purpose for

centrioles other than for checking the daughter cells are correct, which is completely optional.

In conclusion, the centriole, is an important part in our cells. Overseeing the production

of cilia and flagella and helping with cell division, this organelle, while not always needed, is

still useful to our body. It may still be mysterious to us, but scientists will continue to research

this fascinating organelle and gather more information.

Works Cited

Ann Le Good 12 Apr 2013. "Is the Centrosome Necessary?" On Biology. 04 Dec. 2014. Web. 19

Feb. 2017.

"Centriole - The Almighty Cell." Google Sites. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

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"Centrosome." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

Debec, Alain, William Sullivan, and Monica Bettencourt-Dias. "Centrioles: Active Players or

Passengers during Mitosis?" Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. SP Birkhäuser Verlag

Basel, July 2010. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

"Mechanisms of Mitotic Spindle Assembly and Function." International Review of Cytology.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

Regina Bailey Biology Expert. "The Role Centrioles Play in Animal Cell Division." About.com

Education. 08 Feb. 2017. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

Studios, Andrew Rader. "Centrioles - Organizing Chromosomes." Biology4Kids.com: Cell

Structure: Centrioles. Web. 10 Feb. 2017.

"Centriole." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 10 Feb. 2017.