The kinetically dominant assembly pathway for centrosomal asters in Caenorhabditis elegans is γ-tubulin dependent

γ-Tubulin–containing complexes are thought to nucleate and anchor centrosomal microtubules (MTs). Surprisingly, a recent study (Strome, S., J. Powers, M. Dunn, K. Reese, C.J. Malone, J. White, G. Seydoux, and W. Saxton. Mol. Biol. Cell. 12:1751–1764) showed that centrosomal asters form in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos depleted of γ-tubulin by RNA-mediated interference (RNAi). Here, we investigate the nucleation and organization of centrosomal MT asters in C. elegans embryos severely compromised for γ-tubulin function. We characterize embryos depleted of ∼98% centrosomal γ-tubulin by RNAi, embryos expressing a mutant form of γ-tubulin, and embryos depleted of a γ-tubulin–associated protein, CeGrip-1. In all cases, centrosomal asters fail to form during interphase but assemble as embryos enter mitosis. The formation of these mitotic asters does not require ZYG-9, a centrosomal MT-associated protein, or cytoplasmic dynein, a minus end–directed motor that contributes to self-organization of mitotic asters in other organisms. By kinetically monitoring MT regrowth from cold-treated mitotic centrosomes in vivo, we show that centrosomal nucleating activity is severely compromised by γ-tubulin depletion. Thus, although unknown mechanisms can support partial assembly of mitotic centrosomal asters, γ-tubulin is the kinetically dominant centrosomal MT nucleator.