Abstract
The orderly progression of mitosis depends on the formation and proper functioning of the division machinery called mitotic spindles. The major framework of the spindle is microtubules, whose temporal and spatial distribution is controlled by centrosomes (MTOCs: microtubuleorganizing centers) located at each spindle pole. Recent advance in biochemical, immunological and genetic analysis of mitotic cells has allowed us to identify a variety of molecules associated with centrosomes in mitotic cells. An attempt has been made to summarize the current knowledge on the centrosomal components, that should be important for understanding the molecular basis of mitosis and its regulation.
