centrosomelike

Centrosomelike describes cellular structures or assemblies that resemble a centrosome in organization or function, particularly as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC). While a canonical centrosome in many animal cells consists of a pair of centrioles surrounded by pericentriolar material that harbors microtubule-nucleating factors such as gamma-tubulin ring complexes, centrosomelike entities may act as MTOCs without meeting all of these criteria.

Across eukaryotes, centrosomelike MTOCs vary. Plants and many fungi lack a classic centriole-containing centrosome and instead organize microtubules from dispersed or alternative MTOCs associated with the nuclear envelope or cortical sites. In yeasts, spindle pole bodies are embedded in the nuclear envelope and perform centrosome-like microtubule nucleation, though their structure differs from animal centrosomes. In some animal cells, especially during oogenesis, spindles can assemble without canonical centrosomes, using centrosomelike assemblies that nucleate microtubules and organize spindle poles.

Functionally, centrosomelike structures coordinate spindle formation during mitosis and meiosis, organize cytoplasmic microtubules, and influence cell polarity and intracellular transport. Abnormal centrosome or centrosomelike MTOC function is linked to aneuploidy and cancer in humans, and understanding these structures helps explain diversity in cell division strategies.

Centrosomelike is thus a descriptive term used to compare structural and functional features of microtubule organizing centers that resemble centrosomes but may differ in composition, such as lack of centrioles or alternative anchoring sites.