Centrosome-free basal MT organization

Epithelial microtubules (MTs) rely on the cortex and each other to create stable organized patterns, as shown by Reilein et al. (page 845).MTs are normally organized by centrosomes in animal cells. But in polarized epithelial cells, centrosomes are busy building the primary cilium under the apical membrane, leaving basal MTs to fend for themselves. Reilein and colleagues wanted to know how this dynamic yet stable basal network forms.

Epithelial cells are especially tall, so imaging their basal MT network is difficult. Reilein thus called upon an old technique that John Heuser referred to as “unroofing”—she got rid of the apical and lateral membranes to clear her view of the basal cytoskeleton.

What was uncovered was a network of mostly immobile MTs, with a few MTs...