Revealing the Blueprint of Cilia and Centrioles through In Situ Structural Biology

Dr. Khanh Huy Bui
Associate Professor
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
McGill University

This special conference is hosted by Eric Lecuyer. 

About this conference
Cilia and centrioles are evolutionarily conserved organelles that play fundamental roles in cellular motility, signaling, and organization. Defects in their assembly or architecture underlie a broad spectrum of human diseases, from primary ciliary dyskinesia to ciliopathies and microcephaly. Despite their importance, the molecular mechanisms that govern the precise organization and dynamics of these structures remain poorly understood, largely due to the lack of high-resolution information in their native cellular context.
Advances in cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) have transformed our ability to visualize macromolecular assemblies directly within cells, enabling in situ structural biology at unprecedented resolution. By bridging molecular and cellular scales, cryo-ET allows us to uncover the architectural blueprints that define how cilia and centrioles are built and maintained.
In this talk, I will present recent in situ structural analyses of the ciliary tip and the centriole cartwheel — two key regions that define the assembly and function of these organelles. Together, these studies illustrate how cryo-ET can reveal the molecular logic underlying the ninefold symmetry of centrioles and the structural specialization of cilia, bringing us closer to a comprehensive understanding of these essential cellular machines

To make sure you don't miss any of the IRCM conferences, sign up now for our newsletter!