Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-4-2011

Publication Title

The Journal of Cell Biology

Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract

The septins are conserved, GTP-binding proteins important for cytokinesis, membrane compartmentalization, and exocytosis. However, it is unknown how septins are arranged within higher-order structures in cells. To determine the organization of septins in live cells, we developed a polarized fluorescence microscopy system to monitor the orientation of GFP dipole moments with high spatial and temporal resolution. When GFP was fused to septins, the arrangement of GFP dipoles reflected the underlying septin organization. We demonstrated in a filamentous fungus, a budding yeast, and a mammalian epithelial cell line that septin proteins were organized in an identical highly ordered fashion. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements indicated that septin filaments organized into pairs within live cells, just as has been observed in vitro. Additional support for the formation of pairs came from the observation of paired filaments at the cortex of cells using electron microscopy. Furthermore, we found that highly ordered septin structures exchanged subunits and rapidly rearranged. We conclude that septins assemble into dynamic, paired filaments in vivo and that this organization is conserved from yeast to mammals.

DOI

10.1083/jcb.201012143

Original Citation

DeMay BS, Bai X, Howard L, Occhipinti P, Meseroll RA, Spiliotis ET, Oldenbourg R, Gladfelter AS. Septin filaments exhibit a dynamic, paired organization that is conserved from yeast to mammals. J Cell Biol. 2011 Jun 13;193(6):1065-81. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201012143. PMID: 21670216; PMCID: PMC3115802.

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