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Organelle biogenesis on a synthetic bead

Chang, C.-C.; Peng, M.; Blaya-Martinez, L.; Wong, S.-S.; Mohamad, N.; Xiao, B.; Monteiro, J. M.; Harrison, T.; Raff, J. W.

2026-01-12 cell biology
10.64898/2026.01.09.698636 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Centrosomes are complex organelles that comprise multiple copies of hundreds of different proteins, yet they can precisely duplicate every cell cycle. Here we reconstitute centrosome duplication on synthetic beads programmed to recruit core centrosome assembly proteins when injected into Drosophila embryos. These beads generate structures that are functionally indistinguishable from centrosomes: they recruit centriole/centrosome proteins, organise microtubules (MTs) and proceed through multiple rounds of high-fidelity duplication, all in synchrony with the endogenous centrosomes. The beads function as seeds that recruit biogenesis-promoting proteins to stimulate the assembly of relatively simple scaffolds that direct centrosome self-assembly. This "Seed--Scaffold--Self-Assemble" mechanism may represent a general principle of organelle biogenesis, explaining how simple molecular inputs can generate complex structures without the need to copy a pre-existing template.

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