CEP192, a centrosomal protein, is crucial for multiple cellular processes. It plays a significant role in the formation and function of the mitotic spindle, centrosome maturation, and spindle assembly [2]. It is also involved in pathways related to cell cycle regulation and microtubule nucleation, which are of great biological importance for cell division and maintaining genomic integrity. Genetic models are valuable for studying CEP192 as they can help elucidate its functions in a controlled environment.

Deleting the Aurora-A-binding interface in CEP192 prevents centrosomal accumulation of Aurora-A, curtails its activation-loop phosphorylation, and reduces spindle-bound TPX2:Aurora-A complexes, leading to error-prone mitosis. This shows that CEP192:Aurora-A complexes regulate spindle function [1]. In interphase cells, depletion of CEP192 leads to a decrease in centrosomal γ-tubulin, affecting centrosomal microtubule nucleation. However, cells can compensate by increasing microtubule nucleation from other sites like the Golgi apparatus. Also, CEP192 seems to have an antagonistic relationship with Pericentrin in interphase, influencing cell motility and polarization [4]. In hepatocellular carcinoma, CEP192 expression increases with tumor stage, and its silencing prevents tumor cell proliferation and self-renewal by arresting cells in the G0/G1 phase. It is also associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, making it a potential biomarker and therapeutic target [3].

In conclusion, CEP192 is essential for mitotic spindle formation, centrosome-related processes, and microtubule nucleation. Its role in disease, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma as a prognostic marker and its association with the immune microenvironment, is significant. Studies using genetic models, like those showing its impact on mitosis and cell cycle in normal cells and its role in cancer, help us understand its biological functions and potential implications in disease treatment.

References:

1. Holder, James, Miles, Jennifer A, Batchelor, Matthew, Bayliss, Richard, Gergely, Fanni. 2024. CEP192 localises mitotic Aurora-A activity by priming its interaction with TPX2. In The EMBO journal, 43, 5381-5420. doi:10.1038/s44318-024-00240-z. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39327527/

2. Gomez-Ferreria, Maria Ana, Sharp, David J. 2008. Cep192 and the generation of the mitotic spindle. In Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.), 7, 1507-10. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18469523/

3. Liu, Yanli, Liang, Wanmei, Chang, Yabin, Su, Hang, Chen, Jingqi. 2022. CEP192 is a novel prognostic marker and correlates with the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma. In Frontiers in immunology, 13, 950884. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.950884. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36238304/

4. O'Rourke, Brian P, Gomez-Ferreria, Maria Ana, Berk, Robin H, Pelletier, Laurence, Sharp, David J. 2014. Cep192 controls the balance of centrosome and non-centrosomal microtubules during interphase. In PloS one, 9, e101001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0101001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24971877/