Centrosome
Cell organelle in animal cell helping in cell division / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Centrosome?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
In cell biology, the centrosome (Latin centrum 'center' + Greek sōma 'body') (archaically cytocentre[1]) is an organelle that serves as the main microtubule organizing center (MTOC) of the animal cell, as well as a regulator of cell-cycle progression. The centrosome provides structure for the cell. The centrosome is thought to have evolved only in the metazoan lineage of eukaryotic cells.[2] Fungi and plants lack centrosomes and therefore use other structures to organize their microtubules.[3][4] Although the centrosome has a key role in efficient mitosis in animal cells, it is not essential in certain fly and flatworm species.[5][6][7]
Centrosomes are composed of two centrioles arranged at right angles to each other, and surrounded by a dense, highly structured[8] mass of protein termed the pericentriolar material (PCM). The PCM contains proteins responsible for microtubule nucleation and anchoring[9] — including γ-tubulin, pericentrin and ninein. In general, each centriole of the centrosome is based on a nine-triplet microtubule assembled in a cartwheel structure, and contains centrin, cenexin and tektin.[10] In many cell types, the centrosome is replaced by a cilium during cellular differentiation. However, once the cell starts to divide, the cilium is replaced again by the centrosome.[11]