The Conserved Protein SZY-20 opposes the Plk-4-related Kinase ZYG-1 to limit Centrosome Size

• Published in: Developmental cell Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 901 - 912
• Main Authors: Song, Mi Hye, Iyer, Aravind, Müller-Reichert, Thomas, O'Connell, Kevin F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2008
• ISSN: 1534-5807; 1878-1551
• DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2008.09.018

Microtubules are organized by the centrosome, a dynamic organelle that exhibits changes in both size and number during the cell cycle. Here we show that SZY-20, a putative RNA-binding protein, plays a critical role in limiting centrosome size in C. elegans . SZY-20 localizes in part to centrosomes and in its absence centrosomes possess increased levels of centriolar and pericentriolar components including γ-tubulin and the centriole duplication factors ZYG-1 and SPD-2. These enlarged centrosomes possess normal centrioles, nucleate more microtubules, and fail to properly direct a number of microtubule-dependent processes. Depletion of ZYG-1 restores normal centrosome size and function to szy-20 mutants whereas loss of szy-20 suppresses the centrosome duplication defects in both zyg-1 and spd-2 mutants. Our results describe a pathway that determines centrosome size and implicate centriole duplication factors in this process.