Exploring the Role of Centrioles in Space: What Happens to Cells in Space

Updated on April 29, 2025 | By Jameswebb Discovery Editorial Team 

The intricate machinery inside cells has always captured the imagination of scientists, revealing the hidden mechanisms that sustain life. Among these, centrioles stand out as remarkable structures—small, cylindrical organelles that play a pivotal role in cellular division and organization. On Earth, centrioles are essential for processes like mitosis, ciliogenesis, and maintaining cellular polarity in eukaryotic cells. But what happens when these structures are exposed to the microgravity environment of space? The unique conditions up there challenge everything we know about cellular behavior, prompting us to explore how centrioles might adapt. Studying centrioles in space isn’t just about understanding human biology—it opens a window into how life might persist in extraterrestrial environments, a core question in astrobiology. This article delves into the known functions of centrioles, examines how space conditions could affect them, and proposes innovative research to investigate their behavior in microgravity, while drawing connections to the groundbreaking discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

What Do Centrioles Do Here on Earth?

To understand the potential impact of space on centrioles, it’s helpful to first look at their roles under normal conditions. Centrioles are paired, barrel-shaped structures made of microtubules, arranged in a cylindrical pattern often described as a "9+0" configuration due to their nine sets of microtubule triplets. They reside within the centrosome, which serves as the cell’s primary microtubule-organizing center (MTOC), and are involved in several critical functions.

One of the most well-known roles of centrioles is in cell division. During mitosis, centrioles duplicate in the S phase of the cell cycle, forming a pair of centrosomes that move to opposite ends of the cell. These centrosomes then nucleate microtubules to create the mitotic spindle, a structure that pulls chromosomes apart to ensure each daughter cell gets the right genetic material. If centrioles don’t work properly, cells can divide abnormally, leading to problems like aneuploidy or even cell death.

Centrioles also play a key role in building cilia and flagella, the hair-like structures that help cells move or sense their environment. In this process, centrioles act as basal bodies, providing a foundation for the "9+2" microtubule arrangement found in cilia and flagella. For example, in human respiratory epithelial cells, cilia beat rhythmically to clear mucus from the airways, while sperm cells rely on flagella to swim. Without centrioles, these structures wouldn’t form correctly, disrupting essential functions.

Beyond division and motility, centrioles help establish cellular polarity by organizing the microtubule cytoskeleton. This organization is crucial for directional cell migration, tissue development, and intracellular transport. In neurons, for instance, centrioles guide microtubule growth to support axon development, ensuring proper neural connectivity. Recent studies have also uncovered another role: centrioles act as signaling hubs, coordinating pathways like Hedgehog and Wnt, which regulate cell differentiation and development. Proteins associated with centrioles, such as pericentrin and CEP164, interact with signaling molecules to fine-tune cellular responses.

On Earth, these functions happen in a gravity-dependent environment where mechanical forces shape cellular behavior. In the microgravity of space, however, things might work differently, which is why studying centrioles in this context is so intriguing.

Why Study Centrioles in Space?

Space offers a unique environment—microgravity, high radiation, and altered mechanical forces—that challenges cellular processes in ways we can’t replicate on Earth. Experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) have already shown that microgravity affects gene expression, cytoskeletal organization, and cell division, hinting that centrioles, as key players in these processes, might also be impacted. Exploring centriole function in space has far-reaching implications for human spaceflight and astrobiology.

For one, understanding how centrioles behave in microgravity is crucial for astronaut health during long-duration missions. Extended time in space disrupts cellular processes, leading to issues like muscle atrophy, immune dysfunction, and a higher risk of cancer. Since centrioles are central to cell division and polarity, any disruption in their function could worsen these effects, making it essential to develop strategies to protect astronauts on missions to the Moon, Mars, or beyond.

From an astrobiology perspective, centrioles are a defining feature of eukaryotic cells, which form the basis of complex life on Earth. Examining their behavior in space can shed light on how eukaryotic cellular structures might adapt to extreme environments, offering clues about the potential for life on low-gravity exoplanets or moons like Europa, where gravity is much weaker than on Earth.

The discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope, launched on December 25, 2021, provide a broader context for this research. By probing the chemical compositions of exoplanets and star-forming regions, JWST is helping us understand the building blocks of life across the universe, making it the perfect complement to studies of cellular structures like centrioles in space.

How Might Microgravity Affect Centriole Functions?

Microgravity eliminates the gravitational forces that cells experience on Earth, which can lead to significant changes in their behavior. Research on the ISS and in simulated microgravity environments, such as clinostats, offers some insights into how centrioles might be affected.

During mitosis, for example, microgravity can interfere with centrosome positioning and mitotic spindle assembly. A 2018 study of human lymphocytes cultured on the ISS found abnormal spindle morphology and chromosome mis-segregation, suggesting that centriole function might be impaired in microgravity. This could result in higher rates of aneuploidy, which poses risks to astronaut health and might limit the ability of eukaryotic life to thrive in low-gravity environments.

The microtubule cytoskeleton, which centrioles help organize, is also sensitive to mechanical forces. In microgravity, microtubules show reduced polymerization rates and disorganized patterns, as observed in experiments with cultured fibroblasts. This disruption could affect centriole-mediated processes like ciliogenesis and cellular polarity, impacting cell motility and tissue integrity in space.

Ciliogenesis, the process of forming cilia, relies on centrioles functioning as basal bodies. Studies on Xenopus embryos in microgravity have shown delayed ciliogenesis and abnormal cilia beating, indicating that centriole function in basal body assembly might be compromised. This could influence sensory functions and fluid dynamics, both for humans in space and for hypothetical extraterrestrial organisms that might depend on cilia-like structures.

Space radiation adds another layer of complexity. Cosmic rays and solar particles can damage cellular components, including centriolar proteins like centrin and pericentrin, which are vulnerable to oxidative stress. This stress is heightened in space, and damage to these proteins could disrupt centriole duplication and function, affecting cell division and signaling pathways.

These potential impacts highlight the need to study centrioles in space to understand how cells adapt to microgravity and what this means for life in the universe.

Proposed Research on Centrioles in Space

Investigating centriole functions in space calls for creative experimental approaches, making use of platforms like the ISS and advanced imaging technologies. The following research initiatives are designed to explore specific aspects of centriole behavior in microgravity and their implications for astrobiology:

1. Centriole Dynamics During Mitosis in Microgravity

• Objective: Examine how microgravity affects centriole duplication, centrosome positioning, and mitotic spindle formation.

• Methodology:

  • Culture human cell lines, such as HeLa cells, on the ISS to study centriole behavior in real microgravity conditions.

  • Use live-cell imaging with fluorescent markers, such as GFP-tagged centrin, to track centriole duplication and movement throughout the cell cycle.

  • Compare mitotic outcomes, including spindle morphology and chromosome segregation, with ground-based controls.

  • Analyze the gene expression of centriolar proteins, such as PLK4 and CEP152, using RNA sequencing to identify changes induced by microgravity.

• Expected Outcomes: This research could reveal whether microgravity disrupts centriole-mediated mitosis, providing insights into cellular adaptability and potential health risks for astronauts during long-term spaceflight.

• Astrobiological Relevance: Understanding mitotic fidelity in microgravity can shed light on whether eukaryotic life could sustain cell division on low-gravity exoplanets, informing the search for extraterrestrial life.

2. Ciliogenesis and Centriole Function in Space

• Objective: Investigate how microgravity impacts centriole-dependent ciliogenesis and cilia function.

• Methodology:

  • Grow ciliated cell types, such as human respiratory epithelial cells, in microgravity on the ISS.

  • Use electron microscopy and immunofluorescence to assess the conversion of centrioles into basal bodies and the assembly of cilia.

  • Measure cilia beating frequency and coordination using high-speed imaging, comparing the results with Earth-based controls.

  • Investigate protein localization, such as IFT88 (a marker of ciliogenesis), to identify disruptions in ciliary transport processes.

• Expected Outcomes: This study could uncover how microgravity alters ciliogenesis, with implications for sensory and motility functions in space environments.

• Astrobiological Relevance: Cilia are essential for eukaryotic complexity; understanding their behavior in space provides clues about the potential for motile, sensory-equipped life in extraterrestrial settings.

3. Impact of Space Radiation on Centriolar Proteins

• Objective: Assess how cosmic radiation affects the stability and function of centriolar proteins.

• Methodology:

  • Expose cultured cells to simulated space radiation using particle accelerators on Earth, and compare the results with cells flown on the ISS.

  • Use proteomics to analyze changes in centriolar proteins, such as centrin and pericentrin, and measure markers of oxidative damage.

  • Employ CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out or overexpress key centriolar genes, testing their resilience to radiation stress.

  • Monitor centriole duplication and mitotic fidelity after radiation exposure using fluorescence microscopy.

• Expected Outcomes: This research could identify radiation-induced centriole dysfunctions, informing strategies to protect astronauts and potential adaptations in extraterrestrial life forms.

• Astrobiological Relevance: Radiation resistance is a critical factor for life in space; centriole stability could serve as a marker for eukaryotic adaptability on radiation-heavy exoplanets.

4. Centriole-Mediated Signaling in Microgravity

• Objective: Explore how microgravity affects centriole-associated signaling pathways, such as Hedgehog and Wnt.

• Methodology:

  • Culture stem cells on the ISS, where centrioles play a role in differentiation signaling.

  • Use Western blotting and qPCR to measure the expression of signaling pathway components, such as GLI1 for Hedgehog and β-catenin for Wnt.

  • Assess centriole positioning and protein localization, such as CEP164, using super-resolution microscopy.

  • Compare differentiation outcomes, such as neural or epithelial lineage, with ground-based controls.

• Expected Outcomes: This study could reveal how microgravity alters centriole-mediated signaling, impacting cell differentiation and tissue development in space.

• Astrobiological Relevance: Signaling pathways are crucial for the development of multicellular life; their behavior in space informs the potential for complex life forms in low-gravity environments.

5. Synthetic Biology: Engineering Centriole-Like Structures for Space

• Objective: Design synthetic centriole-like structures to test their functionality in microgravity, with applications for astrobiology and space medicine.

• Methodology:

  • Use synthetic biology to engineer microtubule-based structures that mimic centrioles, incorporating radiation-resistant proteins from extremophiles, such as Deinococcus radiodurans.

  • Test these structures in microgravity on the ISS, assessing their ability to nucleate microtubules and support cell division.

  • Compare their performance with natural centrioles under space conditions, using live-cell imaging and proteomics.

  • Explore their potential to enhance cellular resilience in space, such as by stabilizing mitosis or ciliogenesis.

• Expected Outcomes: Synthetic centrioles could provide a model for studying cellular organization in space, potentially leading to bioengineered solutions for spaceflight challenges.

• Astrobiological Relevance: Engineered centrioles could mimic how alien life might evolve alternative cellular structures in extreme environments, offering new perspectives on the search for life.

JWST’s Role in Contextualizing Centriole Research

The James Webb Space Telescope, launched on December 25, 2021, has transformed astrobiology by providing detailed observations of the chemical compositions of exoplanets and star-forming regions. These findings offer a broader context for understanding centriole function in space.

For example, JWST has identified complex organic molecules, such as ethanol and formic acid, in protostars like IRAS 2A. These molecules are precursors to proteins and microtubules, which form centrioles, suggesting that the chemistry for centriole-like structures may exist beyond Earth. Observations of exoplanets like K2-18 b have revealed the presence of water, methane, and carbon dioxide, indicating potentially habitable conditions. Studying centriole function in microgravity can provide insights into whether eukaryotic life, reliant on centrioles, could thrive in such environments.

Additionally, JWST’s discovery of oxygen in the galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0, observed just 290 million years after the Big Bang, suggests rapid chemical evolution in the early universe. Oxygen plays a role in redox reactions within cells, including those involving centriolar proteins, offering a cosmic perspective on centriole biology. By combining JWST’s findings with space-based research on centrioles, the gap between molecular chemistry and cellular biology can be bridged, advancing our understanding of life’s potential in the universe.

Future Directions and Implications

The study of centrioles in space opens up new avenues for research in biology and astrobiology. Future investigations could explore comparative studies, examining centriole function in extremophiles like tardigrades flown to space and comparing their resilience with that of human cells. Artificial intelligence could be used to simulate centriole behavior in microgravity, predicting cellular outcomes on exoplanets with varying gravity levels. Biomedical applications might focus on developing therapies to mitigate centriole dysfunction in astronauts, improving health outcomes during long-duration spaceflight. Additionally, modeling how centriole-like structures might evolve in extraterrestrial eukaryotes could guide the search for life on moons like Europa or exoplanets like K2-18 b.

Conclusion

Centrioles are fundamental to eukaryotic life, playing key roles in cell division, motility, and signaling. In the microgravity environment of space, their functions may be altered, providing a unique opportunity to study cellular adaptability with implications for human spaceflight and astrobiology. Through proposed research on the ISS and insights from JWST’s discoveries, a deeper understanding of centriole dynamics in space can be gained, shedding light on the potential for life across the cosmos. As exploration of the universe continues, centrioles remind us that even the smallest cellular structures can offer profound insights into the biggest questions: How does life adapt, and where might it exist beyond Earth?

Discover more about space biology and JWST’s groundbreaking discoveries on www.jameswebbdiscovery.com.