What are centrioles?
Answers
Answer:
A centriole is a small structure made of microtubules which exists as part of the centrosome, which helps organize microtubules in the body. A centriole is the main unit that creates and anchors microtubules in the cell. Typically, a eukaryotic cell has one centriole that is at a right angle to a second centriole in the centrosome. Microtubules extend from the each centriole, and use the centriole as an anchor for the base of each microtubule. Each cell may have hundreds or thousands of microtubules that extend to various parts of the cell. During normal cell functions, motor proteins attach to both the microtubules and an item to be transported. The motor proteins crawl along the microtubules, dragging whatever substance or compartment with them. Not all cells contain centrioles, and other methods are used for creating microtubules.
Function of a Centriole
Cells form a complex endoskeleton of microtubules which allows substances to be transported to any location in a cell. Products are tagged with special glycoproteins (sugar and protein) which act as signals to specific motor proteins. These proteins attach to the product, or vesicle that the product is stored in, and also attach to a microtubule. Microtubules are arranged at the centriole, of which each centrosome has two. The centrioles anchor the microtubules that extend from it and contain the factors needed to create more tubules.
During mitosis, centrosomes are replicated by duplicating each centriole. The 4 centrioles then divide into two centrosomes, each with one centriole at a right angle to the second centriole. Microtubules extend between the centrosomes which push the sets of centrioles apart. The centrioles will be pushed apart, to opposite ends of the cell. Once established, each centriole will then extend microtubules into the cytoplasm that seek out chromosomes. The microtubules attach to the chromosomes at their centromeres, which are parts of the DNA specially formulated to allow the attachment of special proteins and microtubules. The microtubules are then disassembled from the centriole, which draws the microtubule back toward the centriole, as motor proteins pull the chromosomes apart.
Answer:
centriole is a cylindrical organelle composed mainly of a protein called tubulin.