Extent of pericentriolar material (PCM) involvement in protein organization

Determine the extent to which the pericentriolar material contributes to protein organization within the centrosome beyond its known composition and abundance of centrosomal proteins, in order to clarify functional roles of the PCM matrix in organizing protein assemblies at the centrosome.

Background

The centrosome consists of centrioles embedded within the pericentriolar material (PCM), a proteinaceous lattice enriched in coiled-coil proteins that hosts numerous centrosomal proteins. While the protein components and their quantities within the PCM are well characterized, the functional role of the PCM in organizing these proteins remains unresolved.

Clarifying how the PCM structurally and biochemically organizes centrosomal proteins is important for understanding microtubule nucleation, anchoring, and overall centrosome-mediated cellular functions.

References

While the composition and quantity of centrosome proteins within the PCM matrix are well-documented, the extent of its involvement in protein organization remains uncertain (Bloom et al., 2001).

— Navigating the nexus: a perspective of centrosome -cytoskeleton interactions (2406.06135 - Dutta et al., 10 Jun 2024) in Centrosome structure and function