Tbccd1, a protein related to tubulin cofactor C, is crucial for internal cell organization. It localizes at the centrosome, spindle midzone, midbody, and basal bodies of cilia [1]. It participates in pathways related to centrosome positioning, Golgi apparatus organization, and cytoskeletal filament formation, which are vital for cell migration, cilia assembly, and the establishment of cell polarity and developmental axes [1,2,3]. Genetic models such as gene knockout in different organisms help study its functions.

In RPE-1 cells, knockdown of Tbccd1 led to the dissociation of the centrosome from the nucleus and disorganization of the Golgi apparatus. These cells were larger, less efficient in primary cilia assembly, and had slower migration in wound-healing assays [1]. In the brown alga Ectocarpus, mutations in the gene encoding Tbccd1 caused loss of basal structures, disorganization of the Golgi apparatus, disruption of the microtubule network, and aberrant nucleus positioning during germination [2]. In Trypanosoma brucei, loss of Tbccd1 resulted in disorganization of the Golgi 'bi-lobe' architecture and loss of centriole-kinetoplast linkage [3].

In conclusion, Tbccd1 is essential for maintaining the proper positioning of the centrosome and Golgi apparatus, as well as for the organization of cytoskeletal filaments. Studies using loss-of-function models in various organisms have revealed its significance in cell development, morphogenesis, and the establishment of cell fates. This understanding may potentially contribute to further research on related cellular dysfunctions and diseases.

References:

1. Gonçalves, João, Nolasco, Sofia, Nascimento, Rute, Zabala, Juan Carlos, Soares, Helena. 2010. TBCCD1, a new centrosomal protein, is required for centrosome and Golgi apparatus positioning. In EMBO reports, 11, 194-200. doi:10.1038/embor.2010.5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20168327/

2. Godfroy, Olivier, Uji, Toshiki, Nagasato, Chikako, Cock, J Mark, Coelho, Susana M. 2017. DISTAG/TBCCd1 Is Required for Basal Cell Fate Determination in Ectocarpus. In The Plant cell, 29, 3102-3122. doi:10.1105/tpc.17.00440. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29208703/

3. André, Jane, Harrison, Stephanie, Towers, Katie, McKean, Paul G, Ginger, Michael L. 2013. The tubulin cofactor C family member TBCCD1 orchestrates cytoskeletal filament formation. In Journal of cell science, 126, 5350-6. doi:10.1242/jcs.136515. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24101722/