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Updated: Oct 10, 2025
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Purification and Quality Control of Recombinant Septin Complexes for Cell-Free Reconstitution
Published on: June 23, 2022
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Septin Assembly and Remodeling at the Cell Division Site During the Cell Cycle
Joseph Marquardt1, Xi Chen1, Erfei Bi1
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|December 13, 2021
Summary
Septins are proteins that form filaments and structures crucial for cell division in yeast. This review explores the complex mechanisms regulating septin structural transitions during cell division.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Septins are a conserved family of GTPase proteins that assemble into filaments.
- These filaments form diverse higher-order structures essential for various cellular functions across organisms.
- In budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), septins undergo dynamic structural changes during cell division.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of septin structural dynamics during the cell cycle.
- To highlight the mechanisms regulating transitions between different septin higher-order structures.
- To discuss recent advances in visualizing and reconstituting septin assembly.
Main Methods:
- Advanced imaging techniques to visualize septin structures in vivo.
- In vitro reconstitution assays to study septin assembly and dynamics.
- Analysis of genetic and biochemical factors influencing septin organization.
Main Results:
- Septins form a cortical ring before budding, an hourglass during bud growth, and a double ring during cytokinesis.
- The transitions between these structures are complex and tightly regulated.
- Recent studies reveal intricate molecular mechanisms governing these dynamic changes.
Conclusions:
- Understanding septin structural transitions is key to deciphering their diverse cellular roles.
- Advanced imaging and in vitro methods are crucial for unraveling septin regulation.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complexity of septin dynamics in cell division.
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