Native Architecture of the Centriole Proximal Region Reveals Features Underlying Its 9-Fold Radial Symmetry

Centrioles are cylindrical microtubule-based structures whose assembly is critical for the formation of cilia, flagella, and centrosomes. The centriole proximal region harbors a cartwheel that dictates the 9-fold symmetry of centrioles. Although the cartwheel architecture has been recently analyzed, how it connects to the peripheral microtubules is not understood. More generally, a high-resolution view of the proximal region of the centriole is lacking, thus limiting understanding of the underlying assembly mechanisms.