PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Tang, Nan
AU  - Marshall, Wallace F.
TI  - Centrosome positioning in vertebrate development
AID  - 10.1242/jcs.038083
DP  - 2012 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Cell Science
PG  - 4951--4961
VI  - 125
IP  - 21
4099  - http://jcs.biologists.org/content/125/21/4951.short
4100  - http://jcs.biologists.org/content/125/21/4951.full
SO  - J. Cell Sci.2012 Nov 01; 125
AB  - The centrosome, a major organizer of microtubules, has important functions in regulating cell shape, polarity, cilia formation and intracellular transport as well as the position of cellular structures, including the mitotic spindle. By means of these activities, centrosomes have important roles during animal development by regulating polarized cell behaviors, such as cell migration or neurite outgrowth, as well as mitotic spindle orientation. In recent years, the pace of discovery regarding the structure and composition of centrosomes has continuously accelerated. At the same time, functional studies have revealed the importance of centrosomes in controlling both morphogenesis and cell fate decision during tissue and organ development. Here, we review examples of centrosome and centriole positioning with a particular emphasis on vertebrate developmental systems, and discuss the roles of centrosome positioning, the cues that determine positioning and the mechanisms by which centrosomes respond to these cues. The studies reviewed here suggest that centrosome functions extend to the development of tissues and organs in vertebrates.