CEP192, the centrosomal protein 192, is essential for multiple cellular processes related to cell division. It is involved in centrosome amplification, a process crucial for the formation and function of the mitotic spindle. It participates in pathways that regulate microtubule nucleation and spindle assembly, which are vital for proper cell division and maintaining genome integrity [2,3].

In mitosis, CEP192 has several key functions. It wraps around Aurora-A kinase, occupying binding sites for other partners and competing with them. By priming Aurora-A's interaction with TPX2, it localizes mitotic Aurora-A activity, and deletion of its Aurora-A-binding interface leads to error-prone mitosis [1]. CEP192 is also required for centrosome maturation and spindle assembly. It forms a scaffolding for proteins involved in microtubule nucleation. In its absence, spindles can still form but with abnormal function [3]. In hepatocellular carcinoma, increased CEP192 expression is associated with poor clinicopathologic features, frequent recurrence, and higher mortality. Silencing CEP192 prevents tumor cell proliferation and self-renewal by arresting cells in the G0/G1 phase [2].

In conclusion, CEP192 is a crucial protein for cell division-related processes such as centrosome function, spindle assembly, and microtubule nucleation. Its role in diseases like hepatocellular carcinoma highlights its potential as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target. Studies on CEP192, including those using gene-knockout models in relevant cell lines, have provided insights into its function in normal and disease-related biological processes.

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. 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/

3. 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/