CEP76 is a centrosomal protein involved in the regulation of centriole duplication. Its defining role is to restrict centriole duplication to a single round per cell cycle. It does this by preventing centriole reduplication, so that each cell cycle produces the correct number of new centrioles. NCBI Gene describes the same activity, summarising the protein as a regulator of centriole amplification that limits duplication to once per cell cycle.

The CEP76 gene encodes a protein that localises to the centrosome, a microtubule organising centre within the cytoskeleton, and specifically to the centriole. The protein belongs to the CEP76 family. According to NCBI Gene, alternative splicing of the gene produces multiple transcript variants, which is worth bearing in mind when choosing a CEP76 antibody or designing an assay that targets a particular region of the protein. The mouse ortholog is Cep76.

The gene was previously designated chromosome 18 open reading frame 9 (C18orf9), and is also known by the aliases HsT1705 and FLJ12542. The current name, centrosomal protein 76, follows the nomenclature used for other centrosomal proteins. Because it helps control centriole number, CEP76 is a useful subject for studies of the centrosome cycle and of how cells maintain the correct number of centrioles. Researchers working on this area may also look at other centrosomal proteins, such as CEP97 and CEP72.