Scientists at EPFL have developed CenSpark, a fluorescent probe that makes centrioles and cilia visible inside living cells, helping researchers study cell division, development, and immunity like never before.
Background
Inside every human cell lies a complex network of microscopic structures that regulate movement, division and communication. Among these, centrioles and cilia play essential roles in maintaining cellular organisation and function. Understanding their behaviour is key for research into development, disease and cell signalling.
Scientists have struggled to study centrioles and cilia in many living cells due to the lack of precise imaging tools. Although fluorescent probes have transformed cell biology by allowing us to observe cellular structures in real time, existing fluorescent probes lack the structural selectivity needed to distinguish the specialized microtubule arrangements that define centrioles and cilia.
The development of CenSpark
Scientists at EPFL have now developed CenSpark, a fluorescent probe engineered to bind specifically to microtubule arrangements unique to centrioles and cilia, and thereby allow their selective labeling across eukaryotic systems. Published in Nature Chemical Biology, the probe is a versatile tool that allows scientists to:
- Track centriole dynamics in live cells over extended periods with negligible toxicity.
- Visualize primary and motile cilia without the need for genetic manipulation, making it ideal for difficult-to-transfect cells and non-model organisms.
- Monitor rapid cellular events, such as centrosome polarization at the immunological synapse in CAR-T cells, with superior spatial resolution.
More about the CenSpark technology Read more about the development of CenSpark in the original Nature publication
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References
- Pourroy, C., Hatzopoulos, G.N., Reymond, L. et al. Development of the fluorescent probe CenSpark for labeling centrioles and cilia. Nat Chem Biol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-026-02186-1
- News article by EPFL https://actu.epfl.ch/news/lighting-up-the-organizers-of-the-cell-s-architect/