Figure 10.

A model for the role of each centriole in the centrosome. The model proposes that Mts are nucleated near centriole walls, then released and transported either to the ninein-containing complexes associated with the mother centriole or to other anchoring sites, mainly near or at the plasma membrane. An important feature of this model is that the intercentriolar distance, which might itself be dependent on peripheral acto-myosin activity, would regulate the release of Mts to the cell periphery. These Mts being then involved in peripheral processes, the control of the intercentriolar distance would provide a feed-back loop for the regulation of the cortical acto-myosin system. The link between both centrioles is probably composed of many different proteins usually found in the PCM, and its overall length could be calcium dependent. The maturation-dependent anchoring of the centrosome organelle in the cytoplasm is not represented.