The microtubule organizing activity of centrosomes fluctuates during the cell cycle, reaching the highest levels at M phase. CEP215/CDK5RAP2 is a key pericentriolar material (PCM) protein for microtubule organization of the human centrosome. Here, we provide evidence that CEP215 exhibits a dynamically suppressed, solid-like state in interphase centrosomes, and becomes a more dynamic state in mitotic centrosomes. Specific interaction with PCNT, another centrosome protein, is crucial for diffusible molecular dynamicity of the CEP215 protein. We also found that the cluster formation activity of CEP215 is impaired in a light-inducible system when its coiled-coil domains (CCDs) are truncated. Defects in spindle pole assembly and spindle formation were accompanied in the cells whose CEP215 is substituted with the CCD-truncated mutants. Our results support the notion that the diffusible mobility of CEP215 is enhanced by both homotypic and heterotypic interactions among CCDs, especially at mitotic spindle poles. This work highlights that biophysical properties of the PCM proteins at the centrosomes fluctuate during the cell cycle.
Enhancement of CEP215/CDK5RAP2 dynamics for spindle pole assembly during mitosis
Open Access
Interviews with Biologists @ 100 conference speakers
Explore our interviews with keynote speakers from the Biologists @ 100 conference, hosted to celebrate our publisher’s 100th anniversary, where we discuss climate change and biodiversity with Hans-Otto Pörtner and Jane Francis, health and disease with Charles Swanton and Sadaf Farooqi, and emerging technologies with Manu Prakash and Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz.
Introducing our new Associate Editors
In this Editorial, JCS Editor-in-Chief Michael Way welcomes five new Associate Editors to the JCS team. These Associate Editors will expand our support for the wider cell biology community and handle articles in immune cell biology, proteostasis, imaging and image analysis, plant cell biology, and stem cell biology and modelling.
The spatial choreography of mRNA biosynthesis
In their Review, André Ventura-Gomes and Maria Carmo-Fonseca detail the latest research progress and technological advancements that are helping to unlock how nuclear organisation underpins control of gene transcription and pre-mRNA splicing.
JCS-FocalPlane Training Grants
Early-career researchers - working in an area covered by JCS - who would like to attend a microscopy training course, please apply. Deadline dates for 2025 applications: 6 June 2025 (decision by week commencing 28 July 2025) and 5 September 2025 (decision by week commencing 20 October 2025).
The emerging roles of the endoplasmic reticulum in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction
In their Review, Jonathan Townson and Cinzia Progida highlight recently emerging evidence for a role of the endoplasmic reticulum in enabling a cell to sense and respond to changes in the extracellular mechanical environment.
Social media
