Centriole

Abstract

This organelle was described in the early days of the century as being associated with spindle formation and with chromosome separation during cell division (M. Jorgensen 1913, E.B. Wilson 1925). The replication of this minute organ and its migration to the regions called the spindle poles, became evident during the 1960s. Its internal structure, consisting of a highly ordered and symmetric array of microtubules, was well established at the same time (A. Ross 1968, E.J. DuPraw 1970). In subsequent years the electron microscope picture has only received minor modifications, but it has been complemented by molecular knowledge of the various categories of proteins involved in the assembly of microtubules (H. Lodish et al. 1995).