Centrosomes are major microtubule organizing centres that set up an internal microtubule (MT) network contributing to cell shape and to the formation of the mitotic spindle during cell division. Rearrangement of this MT array can be dictated by the centrosome and occurs during cell adhesion, polarization and migration. However, little is known about what regulates centrosome assembly and maintenance. beta1-integrins are common cell surface receptors and we show that beta1-integrin signalling is necessary for modulation of centrosome dynamics. In an attempt to identify the downstream components of beta1-integrin signalling involved, we also discovered that the activation of focal adhesion kinase or integrin linked kinase are not required in maintaining centrosome integrity. This would indicate that a non-canonical signalling beta1-integrin pathway might be involved in controlling centrosomal dynamics. This gives us greater insight into the mechanisms that control centrosomal stability and may lead to the better understanding of diseases like cancer and diseases, i.e. lissencephaly, which involve defects in cell polarization and asymmetric cell division, where the centrosome seems to have an important role.

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