Research Structural mechanisms for centrosomal recruitment and organization of the microtubule nucleator γ-TuRC

The γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) is responsible for de novo assembly of microtubules, which are required for essential cellular processes such as mitotic spindle formation. The assembly of the highly organized microtubule cytoskeleton involves localization of the γ-TuRC to various microtubule-organizing centers, most prominently the centrosome. In a collaborative effort between the groups of Elmar Schiebel (ZMBH), Stefan Pfeffer (ZMBH) and Oliver Gruss (University of Bonn), the shared first authors Qi Gao, Florian Hofer, Sebastian Filbeck and Bram Vermeulen followed an integrative approach including state-of-the-art light and cryo-electron microscopy, cell biology and biochemistry to study the mechanisms underlying centrosomal recruitment, organization and activation of γ-TuRCs at the structural level. Their work also unveiled a highly condensed cluster of γ-TuRCs in the centriole lumen, which likely serves as a reservoir for mitosis.