# Dissecting the Structural Organization, Recruitment and Activation Mechanisms of Centrosomal γ‐TuRCs

**Authors:** Florian W. Hofer, Martin Würtz, Qi Gao, Bram J. A. Vermeulen, Elmar Schiebel, Stefan Pfeffer

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/cm.22040 · Cytoskeleton (Hoboken, N.j.) · 2025-05-12

## TL;DR

This study uses advanced imaging to reveal how γ-TuRCs are structured and regulated at human centrosomes, shedding light on microtubule nucleation control.

## Contribution

The paper presents the first visualization of native γ-TuRC structures and their distinct localization patterns at centrosomes.

## Key findings

- γ-TuRCs are found in two distinct pools: the PCM and the centriole lumen.
- NEDD1 associates with all γ-TuRCs, while CDK5RAP2 and augmin regulate their positioning and conformation.
- The structural organization of γ-TuRCs is linked to spatial and temporal control of microtubule nucleation.

## Abstract

Visualizing human centrosomes using cryo‐electron tomography revealed the native structure and molecular organization of γ‐tubulin ring complexes (γ‐TuRCs). γ‐TuRCs localized to two distinct centrosomal pools, one in the pericentriolar material (PCM) and another in the centriole lumen, which is released during mitosis. All detected γ‐TuRCs were associated with the tetrameric adaptor protein NEDD1. Within the PCM, binding to the centrosomin (CM1) motif of the microcephaly protein CDK5RAP2 in different patterns correlates with conformational changes of γ‐TuRCs. In the centriole lumen, the augmin complex anchors γ‐TuRCs to the inner scaffold. These observations provide key insights into how the structural organization of γ‐TuRCs and regulatory factors collectively govern the spatial and temporal control of microtubule nucleation in centrosomes.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** CDK5RAP2 (CDK5 regulatory subunit associated protein 2) [NCBI Gene 55755]
- **Proteins:** gammaTub23C (gamma-Tubulin at 23C), NEDD1 (NEDD1 gamma-tubulin ring complex targeting factor)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (taxon 9606)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CDK5RAP2 (CDK5 regulatory subunit associated protein 2) [NCBI Gene 55755] {aka C48, Cep215, MCPH3}, NEDD1 (NEDD1 gamma-tubulin ring complex targeting factor) [NCBI Gene 121441] {aka GCP-WD, TUBGCP7}
- **Diseases:** microcephaly (MESH:D008831)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12789885/full.md

## References

31 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12789885/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12789885