背景资料：Centrosomes are the major microtubule-organizing centers of mammalian cells. They are composed of a centriole pair and surrounding microtubule-nucleating material termed pericentriolar material (PCM). Bipolar mitotic spindle assembly relies on two intertwined processes: centriole duplication and centrosome maturation. Failure to properly orchestrate centrosome duplication and maturation is subsequently linked to spindle defects, which can result in aneuploidy and promote cancer progression. CEP72 (centrosomal protein 72kDa) is a 647 amino acid protein that localizes to the centrosome and centrosome-surrounding particles throughout the cell cycle. Involved in the recruitment of key centrosomal proteins to the centrosome, CEP72 provides centrosomal microtubule-nucleation activity on the Tubulin ring complexes and has critical roles in forming a focused bipolar spindle, which is needed for proper tension generation between sister chromatids. CEP72 exists as two alternatively spliced isoforms.