Msc project

Regulation of centriole biogenesis by the actin network

Supervisor:Joana Bugalhão and Mónica Bettencourt-Dias

IGC Group: Cell Cycle Regulation Lab

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract: Centrosomes are composed of two centrioles surrounded by pericentriolar material and play critical roles in cell cycle progression. Centriole duplication is regulated in space by the pre-existing centriole and in time by the cell cycle. However, in certain acentriolar cells, centrioles can also form de novo. Recent studies highlighted novel relationships between centrosomes and the actin cytoskeleton. For instance, centrosomes can nucleate actin filaments and the number of centrosomal microtubules is regulated by the actin-network architecture. Also, a proteomic study from our lab aiming to detect proteins interacting with regulators of centriole biogenesis led to the identification of proteins with actin-related functions and actin-microtubule cross-linkers. The aim of this project is to understand the role of the actin cytoskeleton in canonical/de novo centriole biogenesis using different approaches, including molecular biology techniques, co-immunoprecipitation assays, immunoblotting, fluorescence microscopy and live cell imaging. Altogether, these approaches are expected to contribute to a better understanding of centrosomal regulation.