purification-quality-control-recombinant-septin-complexes-for-cell

Purification and Quality Control of Recombinant Septin Complexes for Cell-Free Reconstitution

Septins are a family of conserved eukaryotic GTP-binding proteins that can form cytoskeletal filaments and higher-order structures from hetero-oligomeric ...

Delft University of Technology

Septins are conserved cytoskeletal proteins that regulate cell cortex mechanics. The mechanisms of their interactions with the plasma membrane remain poorly understood. Here, we show by cell-free reconstitution that binding to flat lipid membranes requires electrostatic interactions of septins with anionic lipids and promotes the ordered self-assembly of fly septins into filamentous meshworks. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that both fly and mammalian septin hexamers form arrays of single and paired filaments. Atomic force microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance demonstrate that the fly filaments form mechanically rigid, 12- to 18-nm thick, double layers of septins. By contrast, C-terminally truncated septin mutants form 4-nm thin monolayers, indicating that stacking requires the C-terminal coiled coils on DSep2 and Pnut subunits. Our work shows that membrane binding is required for fly septins to form ordered arrays of single and paired filaments and provides new insights into the mechanisms by which septins may regulate cell surface mechanics.

Membrane binding controls ordered self-assembly of animal septins.

Septin GTP-binding proteins contribute essential biological functions that range from the establishment of cell polarity to animal tissue morphogenesis. Human septins in cells form hetero-octameric septin complexes containing the ubiquitously expressed SEPT9 subunit (also known as SEPTIN9). Despite the established role of SEPT9 in mammalian development and human pathophysiology, biochemical and biophysical studies have relied on monomeric SEPT9, thus not recapitulating its native assembly into hetero-octameric complexes. We established a protocol that enabled, for the first time, the isolation of recombinant human septin octamers containing distinct SEPT9 isoforms. A combination of biochemical and biophysical assays confirmed the octameric nature of the isolated complexes in solution. Reconstitution studies showed that octamers with either a long or a short SEPT9 isoform form filament assemblies, and can directly bind and cross-link actin filaments, raising the possibility that septin-decorated actin structures in cells reflect direct actin-septin interactions. Recombinant SEPT9-containing octamers will make it possible to design cell-free assays to dissect the complex interactions of septins with cell membranes and the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton.

Insights into animal septins using recombinant human septin octamers with distinct SEPT9 isoforms.

Septins, a family of GTP-binding proteins that assemble into higher order structures, interface with the membrane, actin filaments and microtubules, and are thus important regulators of cytoarchitecture. Septin 9 (SEPT9), which is frequently overexpressed in tumors and mutated in hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA), mediates the binding of septins to microtubules, but the molecular determinants of this interaction remained uncertain. We demonstrate that a short microtubule-associated protein (MAP)-like motif unique to SEPT9 isoform 1 (SEPT9_i1) drives septin octamer-microtubule interaction in cells and in vitro reconstitutions. Septin-microtubule association requires polymerizable septin octamers harboring SEPT9_i1. Although outside of the MAP-like motif, HNA mutations abrogate this association, identifying a putative regulatory domain. Removal of this domain from SEPT9_i1 sequesters septins on microtubules, promotes microtubule stability and alters actomyosin fiber distribution and tension. Thus, we identify key molecular determinants and potential regulatory roles of septin-microtubule interaction, paving the way to deciphering the mechanisms underlying septin-associated pathologies. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Article	Year
Membrane binding controls ordered self-assembly of animal septins. eLife\| PubMed ID: 33847563	2021
Insights into animal septins using recombinant human septin octamers with distinct SEPT9 isoforms. Journal of cell science\| PubMed ID: 34350965	2021
Septin-microtubule association via a motif unique to isoform 1 of septin 9 tunes stress fibers. Journal of cell science\| PubMed ID: 34854883	2022

Gerard Castro-Linares

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