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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Super-resolution Imaging of the Bacterial Division Machinery
Published on: January 21, 2013
The ESCRT-machinery: closing holes and expanding roles
Alberto T Gatta1, Jeremy G Carlton1
1Division of Cancer Studies, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom; The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The ESCRT machinery is an ancient, evolutionarily conserved membrane remodelling complex that is deployed by cells to perform a diverse collection of physiological and pathophysiological processes. ESCRT proteins are needed for multivesicular body biogenesis, release of enveloped retroviruses, reformation of the nuclear envelope and cytokinetic abscission during mitotic exit. These events all share the requirement for a topologically equivalent membrane remodelling for their completion that is thought to be performed by ESCRT-III. More recently, ESCRTs have been shown to play essential roles in repairing damaged cellular membranes, so preserving cellular viability and organellar function. Here, we will examine new advances in our understanding of the cell biology of this fascinating cellular machinery.
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