Centrosomal Protein 72kDa (CEP72)

Centrosomal protein of 72 kDa is a member of the leucine-rich-repeat (LRR) superfamily of proteins. The protein is localized to the centrosome, a non-membraneous organelle that functions as the major microtubule-organizing center in animal cells. Cep72 is essential for the localization of CG-NAP and Kizuna. Cep72 is also involved in γTuRC recruitment to the centrosome and CG-NAP confers the microtubule-nucleation activity on the γTuRCs. During mitosis, Cep72-mediated microtubule organization is important for converging spindle microtubules to the centrosomes, which is needed for chromosome alignment and tension generation between kinetochores. Cep72 is the key protein essential for maintaining microtubule-organizing activity and structural integrity of the centrosome.