Centrosomal nucleolin is required for microtubule network organization

Although multipolar spindle formation has been observed after nucleolin depletion, the roles of nucleolin in centrosome regulation and functions have not been addressed. Here we report using immunofluorescence and biochemically purified centrosomes that nucleolin co-localized only with one of the centrioles during interphase which was further identified as the mature centriole.

Upon nucleolin depletion, cells exhibited an amplification of immature centriole markers surrounded by irregular pericentrin staining; these structures were exempt from maturation markers and unable to nucleate microtubules. Furthermore, the microtubule network was disorganized in these cells, exhibiting frequent non-centrosomal microtubules. At the mature centriole a reduced kinetics in the centrosomal microtubule nucleation phase was observed in live silenced cells, as well as a perturbation of microtubule anchoring.