Centrioles and Cellular Differentiation

For decades, centrioles have been studied primarily for their canonical roles in organizing the mitotic spindle and templating cilia. However, a paradigm shift is underway. This meta-analysis synthesizes contemporary evidence to argue that centrioles are, in fact, pivotal regulatory hubs that directly govern cellular differentiation and fate specification. Moving beyond their structural functions, centrioles influence differentiation through a multi-faceted framework: (1) by ensuring precise spindle geometry and orientation to execute asymmetric cell divisions that segregate fate determinants; (2) by serving as the mandatory platform for the primary cilium, a signaling compartment essential for transducing…