Double life of centrioles: CP110 in the spotlight

Centrioles lead an important double life: they can give rise to the centrosome or convert to basal bodies and template cilia. Little is known about the control of centriole fate. Spektor and colleagues have now identified a centriolar complex, composed of CP110 and CEP97, which inhibits centriole to basal body conversion, preventing cilia formation. This work paves the way to understanding centriole and cilia biogenesis, which are two processes misregulated in human diseases, such as cancer and polycystic kidney disease.