Definitions for Centrosome Paper, mcdb 2151

Adenocarcinoma-a malignant epithelial tumor

affinity purification-technique used to separate out specific antibodies (such

as those that bound centrin or phosphorylated centrin) from a sample

of many different antibodies

Aneuploidy-abnormal number of chromosomes, often seen in cancer cells

Anomalous-unusual or irregular

Anti–centrin mAB (an antibody raised against the centrin protein) these

antibodies will bind centrin proteins and will mark the position of

centrin in the cell

Apically- near the tip of the cell

BSA- bovine serum albumin

Carcinoma-cancer

Cell cycle- orderly cycle of eukaryotic cell growth and division in which

DNA replication and mitosis occurs in preparation for cell division,

includes G1 (Gap 1). S (DNA synthesis), G2 (Gap 2), M (mitosis)

Centrin- centrosome protein important for centrosome duplication and

separation

Centrioles-pairs of circular arrays of microtubules (often but not always)

found in the center of centrosomes of animal cells

Centrosome-microtubule organizing center-forms spindle poles during

mitosis and meiosis

Colorectal-having to do with the colon or rectum

Cryosections- frozen cell sections prepared for electron microscopy

Cytostatic factor- protein (isolated from Xenopus eggs) that halts cell

division

DMEM- cell culture medium

Ductal carcinoma-carcinoma of the ducts of breast tissue

Epithelial cells-cells that line an external surface or cavity in the body

Fibroblasts-type of cell found in connective tissue

Fluorescence data-analyzing the presence of fluorescently tagged antibodies

G1/S –check point in cell where decision is made to initiate DNA synthesis

G2/M- check point in cell where decision is made to initiate mitosis

“global” phosphite triester phosphorylation-method used to add phosphate

groups to protein

Histological grade 4-grades or stages are assigned to cancer cells to

describe how far they have spread, Stage or grade 4 indicates the

cancer has spread (metastasized) to other sites in the body

centrin peptide – pepetide used to raise specific antibodies to the

phosphorylated form of centrin

Immunolabeled- proteins that are bound by antibodies (usually these

antibodies are tagged with a marker such as fluoresecent molecule)

in situ- examining tissue on slides (rather than cultured cells)

Lobular carcinoma- carcinoma of the lobules of the breast

Mammoplasties-mammary tissue

Metastatic-when cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body

Microtubule nucleation-initiation point for assembly of microtubules

Microtubule organizing center (MTOC)-site where microtubules are

nucleated and from which they can grow-includes centrosomes,

spindle poles

Myoepithelial cells –muscle epithelial cells

Neoplastic transformation- When normal cells are transformed into cells

that grow abnormally and uncontrollably

Nucleation-to form a site or scaffold where cellular components can

assemble

P53 tumor suppressor gene-a type of tumor suppressor, the gene encoding

this protein is often found mutated in cancer cells

PBS-one of buffers used to prepare tissue for antibody binding

pericentrin-protein that helps organize centrosome structure

Pericentriolar matrix-material (including proteins) around centrosome

Permeabilized-made permeable

Pleomorphism- variable size and shape of cells or nuclei

Polyclonal antibody-a mixture of antibodies that bind a specific protein

SDS/PAGE- electrophoresis of proteins (denatured in SDS) in a

polyacrylamide gel to separate proteins by their molecular weight

(similar to agarose gel electrophoresis used to separate different

sized DNA fragments)

Serial sections-consecutive microsections through a cell,

Spindle poles-poles where microtubules are organized during mitosis and

meiosis

Stromal tissues-connective tissues that support the epithelial tissues

Supernumerary-exceeding the usual number

Taxol-drug used to block estrogen receptors, used as treatment for some

breast cancers

Tumor suppressor gene-gene that regulates the cell cycle-acts as” brakes “

prevents inappropriate entry into the cell cycle

Vascular endothelial cells-cells that line the blood vessels

Vesicular trafficking-movement of vesicles in cytoplasm (along

microtubules)

Westerns- technique used to identify specific proteins in a protein gel by

binding antibodies that can only bind one particular protein

g-tubulin-tubulin protein important for nucleation of microtubules