The concept of centrosome derives from a German word, in turn formed by the union of the Latin centrum (which can be translated as "center" ) and the Greek sôma ( "body" ). It is an organelle of cells that is made up of a pair of perpendicular centrioles .
The origin of this term centrosome is found in the 19th century. And it was at that time when two biologists specialized in the cellular world discovered that the cells they were studying had a structure in the center from which fibers emerged. Those scientists were none other than Boveri and Van Beneden. They continued to analyze these structures in depth and finally established the need to name it the centrosome.
To understand this definition, it is necessary to be clear about what certain notions refer to. Cells are the fundamental units of living beings with the capacity for independent reproduction. These cells have, in turn, functional and structural units known as organelles . Centrioles , for their part, are composed of microtubules that enable cell movements and contribute to the organization of their cytoskeleton.
A centrosome, in short, is a cellular organelle that has two centrioles . Its most important function is associated with the movements that are carried out within the framework of the division of a cell.
The centrioles of the centrosome are surrounded by proteins , forming the so-called pericentriolar material . Around the centrosome it is possible to detect various microtubules that give rise to an aster .
When a cell is in the process of division, the achromatic spindle has a centrosome with two centrioles at each end. Thus, when mitosis is completed, each of the daughter cells has a centrosome with its pair of centrioles. The separation of the centrioles in the previous phase is known as uncoupling and is essential for the development of the duplication that follows. Centrosomes, therefore, are key in cell motility.
Other important information that you need to know regarding the centrosome are the following that we present to you:
-Performs functions such as cell division , cell polarity, cell motility, organization of the microtubule network, production of flagella, intracellular transport and production of cilia.
-Its main work, organization of the aforementioned microtubules, is carried out following these phases: decomposition of the centrioles, duplication of the centrosome, docking of the centrioles, maturation of the centrosomes, separation of the centrosomes and formation of the so-called mitotic spindle.
-When uncontrolled expression of the aforementioned centrosomes occurs, what are called structural aberrations can occur.
-In the same way, in relation to the centrosome, we have to establish that, on other occasions, what are called numerical aberrations occur.
-Microtubules are made up of different subunits of the protein called tubulin.
-The aforementioned biologist Boveri was the one who realized that centrosomes are usually altered by cancer cells. This is what he discovered at the end of the 19th century.