Uncovering principles that control septin-septin interactions

A single septin from a polyextremotolerant yeast recapitulates many canonical functions of septin hetero-oligomers

Morphological complexity and plasticity are hallmarks of polyextremotolerant fungi. Septins are conserved cytoskeletal proteins and key contributors to cell polarity and morphogenesis. They sense membrane curvature, coordinate cell division, and influence diffusion at the plasma membrane. Four septin homologues are conserved from yeasts to humans, the systems in which septins have been most studied. But there is also a fifth family of opisthokont septins that remain biochemically mysterious. Members of this family, Group 5 septins, appear in the genomes of filamentous fungi, but are understudied due to their absence from ascomycete yeasts. Knufia petricola is an emerging model polyextremotolerant black fungus that can also serve as a model system for Group 5 septins. We have recombinantly expressed and biochemically characterized KpAspE, a Group 5 septin from K. petricola. This septin--by itself in vitro--recapitulates many functions of canonical septin hetero-octamers. KpAspE is an active GTPase that forms diverse homo-oligomers, binds shallow membrane curvatures, and interacts with the terminal subunit of canonical septin hetero-octamers. These findings raise the possibility that Group 5 septins govern the higher-order structures formed by canonical septins, which in K. petricola cells form extended filaments, and provide insight into how septin hetero-oligomers evolved from ancient homomers.

Evolutionary degeneration of septins into pseudoGTPases: impacts on a hetero-oligomeric assembly interface

The septin family of eukaryotic proteins comprises distinct classes of sequence-related monomers that associate in a defined order into linear hetero-oligomers, which are capable of polymerizing into cytoskeletal filaments. Like actin and ⍺ and β tubulin, most septin monomers require binding of a nucleotide at a monomer-monomer interface (the septin "G" interface) for assembly into higher-order structures. Like ⍺ and β tubulin, where GTP is bound by both subunits but only the GTP at the ⍺-β interface is subject to hydrolysis, the capacity of certain septin monomers to hydrolyze their bound GTP has been lost during evolution. Thus, within septin hetero-oligomers and filaments, certain monomers remain permanently GTP-bound. Unlike tubulins, loss of septin GTPase activity-creating septin "pseudoGTPases"-occurred multiple times in independent evolutionary trajectories, accompanied in some cases by non-conservative substitutions in highly conserved residues in the nucleotide-binding pocket. Here, we used recent septin crystal structures, AlphaFold-generated models, phylogenetics and in silico nucleotide docking to investigate how in some organisms the septin G interface evolved to accommodate changes in nucleotide occupancy. Our analysis suggests that yeast septin monomers expressed only during meiosis and sporulation, when GTP is scarce, are evolving rapidly and might not bind GTP or GDP. Moreover, the G dimerization partners of these sporulation-specific septins appear to carry compensatory changes in residues that form contacts at the G interface to help retain stability despite the absence of bound GDP or GTP in the facing subunit. During septin evolution in nematodes, apparent loss of GTPase activity was also accompanied by changes in predicted G interface contacts. Overall, our observations support the conclusion that the primary function of nucleotide binding and hydrolysis by septins is to ensure formation of G interfaces that impose the proper subunit-subunit order within the hetero-oligomer.

Human septins organize as octamer-based filaments and mediate actin-membrane anchoring in cells

Septins are cytoskeletal proteins conserved from algae and protists to mammals. A unique feature of septins is their presence as heteromeric complexes that polymerize into filaments in solution and on lipid membranes. Although animal septins associate extensively with actin-based structures in cells, whether septins organize as filaments in cells and if septin organization impacts septin function is not known. Customizing a tripartite split-GFP complementation assay, we show that all septins decorating actin stress fibers are octamer-containing filaments. Depleting octamers or preventing septins from polymerizing leads to a loss of stress fibers and reduced cell stiffness. Super-resolution microscopy revealed septin fibers with widths compatible with their organization as paired septin filaments. Nanometer-resolved distance measurements and single-protein tracking further showed that septin filaments are membrane bound and largely immobilized. Finally, reconstitution assays showed that septin filaments mediate actin-membrane anchoring. We propose that septin organization as octamer-based filaments is essential for septin function in anchoring and stabilizing actin filaments at the plasma membrane.

The Structural Biology of Septins and Their Filaments: An Update

In order to fully understand any complex biochemical system from a mechanistic point of view, it is necessary to have access to the three-dimensional structures of the molecular components involved. Septins and their oligomers, filaments and higher-order complexes are no exception. Indeed, the spontaneous recruitment of different septin monomers to specific positions along a filament represents a fascinating example of subtle molecular recognition. Over the last few years, the amount of structural information available about these important cytoskeletal proteins has increased dramatically. This has allowed for a more detailed description of their individual domains and the different interfaces formed between them, which are the basis for stabilizing higher-order structures such as hexamers, octamers and fully formed filaments. The flexibility of these structures and the plasticity of the individual interfaces have also begun to be understood. Furthermore, recently, light has been shed on how filaments may bundle into higher-order structures by the formation of antiparallel coiled coils involving the C-terminal domains. Nevertheless, even with these advances, there is still some way to go before we fully understand how the structure and dynamics of septin assemblies are related to their physiological roles, including their interactions with biological membranes and other cytoskeletal components. In this review, we aim to bring together the various strands of structural evidence currently available into a more coherent picture. Although it would be an exaggeration to say that this is complete, recent progress seems to suggest that headway is being made in that direction.

Septin-microtubule association via a motif unique to the isoform 1 of septin 9 tunes stress fibers

Septins, a family of GTP-binding proteins assembling into higher order structures, interface with the membrane, actin filaments and microtubules, which positions them as 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 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 abrogates 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.

Proteomic profiling of the oncogenic septin 9 reveals isoform-specific interactions in breast cancer cells

Septins are a family of multimeric GTP-binding proteins, which are abnormally expressed in cancer. Septin 9 (SEPT9) is an essential and ubiquitously expressed septin with multiple isoforms, which have differential expression patterns and effects in breast cancer cells. It is unknown, however, if SEPT9 isoforms associate with different molecular networks and functions. Here, we performed a proteomic screen in MCF-7 breast cancer cells to identify the interactome of GFP-SEPT9 isoforms 1, 4 and 5, which vary significantly in their N-terminal extensions. While all three isoforms associated with SEPT2 and SEPT7, the truncated SEPT9_i4 and SEPT9_i5 interacted with septins of the SEPT6 group more promiscuously than SEPT9_i1, which bound predominately SEPT8. Spatial mapping and functional clustering of non-septin partners showed isoform-specific differences in interactions with proteins of distinct subcellular organelles (e.g., nuclei, centrosomes, cilia) and functions such as cell signalling and ubiquitination. The interactome of the full length SEPT9_i1 was more enriched in cytoskeletal regulators, while the truncated SEPT9_i4 and SEPT9_i5 exhibited preferential and isoform-specific interactions with nuclear, signalling, and ubiquitinating proteins. These data provide evidence for isoform-specific interactions, which arise from truncations in the N-terminal extensions of SEPT9, and point to novel roles in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

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

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.

Revised subunit order of mammalian septin complexes explains their in vitro polymerization properties

Septins are conserved GTP-binding cytoskeletal proteins that polymerize into filaments by end-to-end joining of hetero-oligomeric complexes. In human cells, both hexamers and octamers exist, and crystallography studies predicted the order of the hexamers to be SEPT7-SEPT6-SEPT2-SEPT2-SEPT6-SEPT7, while octamers are thought to have the same core, but with SEPT9 at the ends. However, based on this septin organization, octamers and hexamers would not be expected to copolymerize due to incompatible ends. Here we isolated hexamers and octamers of specific composition from human cells and show that hexamers and octamers polymerize individually and, surprisingly, with each other. Binding of the Borg homology domain 3 (BD3) domain of Borg3 results in distinctive clustering of each filament type. Moreover, we show that the organization of hexameric and octameric complexes is inverted compared with its original prediction. This revised septin organization is congruent with the organization and behavior of yeast septins suggesting that their properties are more conserved than was previously thought.

Production and analysis of a mammalian septin hetero-octamer complex

The septins are filament-forming proteins found in diverse eukaryotes from fungi to vertebrates, with roles in cytokinesis, shaping of membranes and modifying cytoskeletal organization. These GTPases assemble into rod-shaped soluble hetero-hexamers and hetero-octamers in mammals, which polymerize into filaments and higher order structures. While the cell biology and pathobiology of septins are advancing rapidly, mechanistic study of the mammalian septins is limited by a lack of recombinant hetero-octamer materials. We describe here the production and characterization of a recombinant mammalian septin hetero-octamer of defined stoichiometry, the SEPT2/SEPT6/SEPT7/SEPT3 complex. Using a fluorescent protein fusion to the complex, we observed filaments assembled from this complex. In addition, we used this novel tool to resolve recent questions regarding the organization of the soluble septin complex. Biochemical characterization of a SEPT3 truncation that disrupts SEPT3-SEPT3 interactions is consistent with SEPT3 occupying a central position in the complex while the SEPT2 subunits are at the ends of the rod-shaped octameric complexes. Consistent with SEPT2 being on the complex ends, we find that our purified SEPT2/SEPT6/SEPT7/SEPT3 hetero-octamer copolymerizes into mixed filaments with separately purified SEPT2/SEPT6/SEPT7 hetero-hexamer. We expect this new recombinant production approach to lay essential groundwork for future studies into mammalian septin mechanism and function.

Septin6 regulates cell growth and casein synthesis in dairy cow mammary epithelial cells via mTORC1 pathway

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that Septin6 is a key regulatory factor influencing amino acid (AA)-mediated cell growth and casein synthesis in dairy cow mammary epithelial cells (DCMECs). DCMECs were treated with absence of AA (AA-), restricted concentrations of AA (AAr) or normal concentrations of AA (AA+) for 24 h. Cell growth, expression of CSN2 and Septin6 were increased in response to AA supply. Overexpressing or inhibiting Septin6 demonstrated that cell growth, expression of CSN2, mTOR, p-mTOR, S6K1 and p-S6K1 were up-regulated by Septin6. Furthermore, overexpressing or inhibiting mTOR demonstrated that the increase in cell growth and expression of CSN2 in response to Septin6 overexpression were inhibited by mTOR inhibition, and vice versa. Our hypothesis was supported; we were able to show that Septin6 is an important positive factor for cell growth and casein synthesis, it up-regulates AA-mediated cell growth and casein synthesis through activating mTORC1 pathway in DCMECs.

Interaction of septin 7 and DOCK8 in equine lymphocytes reveals novel insights into signaling pathways associated with autoimmunity

The GTP-binding protein septin 7 is involved in various cellular processes, including cytoskeleton organization, migration and the regulation of cell shape. Septin 7 function in lymphocytes, however, is poorly characterized. Since the intracellular signaling role of septin 7 is dependent on its interaction network, interaction proteomics was applied to attain novel knowledge about septin 7 function in hematopoietic cells. Our previous finding of decreased septin 7 expression in blood-derived lymphocytes in ERU, a spontaneous animal model for autoimmune uveitis in man, extended the role of septin 7 to a potential key player in autoimmunity. Here, we revealed novel insights into septin 7 function by identification of DOCK8 as an interaction partner in primary blood-derived lymphocytes. Since DOCK8 is associated with important immune functions, our finding of significantly decreased DOCK8 expression and altered DOCK8 interaction network in ERU might explain changes in immune response and shows the contribution of DOCK8 in pathomechanisms of spontaneous autoimmune diseases. Moreover, our analyses revealed insights in DOCK8 function, by identifying the signal transducer ILK as a DOCK8 interactor in lymphocytes. Our finding of the enhanced enrichment of ILK in ERU cases indicates a deviant influence of DOCK8 on inter- and intracellular signaling in autoimmune disease.

Overexpression of septin-7 inhibits melatonin-induced cell apoptosis in human fetal osteoblastic cells via suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress

Our previous study demonstrated that melatonin could induce apoptosis in the human fetal osteoblastic (hFOB) 1.19 cell line via induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and recent studies have demonstrated that the expression of septin‑7 (SEPT7) exhibits a positive correlation with the concentration of melatonin. Western blotting demonstrated the expression level of SEPT7 was significantly upregulated in a dose‑dependent manner following treatment with differing concentrations of melatonin compared with the control groups, which did not receive any treatment. The expression of proteins associated with cell apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS; pro-caspase‑3, cleaved caspase‑3, C/EBP‑homologous protein, 78 kDa glucose‑regulated protein and phosphorylated‑eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α) were decreased following transfection with SEPT7 overexpression plasmid and increased following transfection with SEPT7 small interfering RNA compared with the control groups. The results of the present study suggest that SEPT7 inhibits melatonin‑induced cell apoptosis via suppression of ERS.

The step-wise pathway of septin hetero-octamer assembly in budding yeast

Septin proteins bind guanine nucleotides and form rod-shaped hetero-oligomers. Cells choose from a variety of available septins to assemble distinct hetero-oligomers, but the underlying mechanism was unknown. Using a new in vivo assay, we find that a stepwise assembly pathway produces the two species of budding yeast septin hetero-octamers: Cdc11/Shs1–Cdc12–Cdc3–Cdc10–Cdc10–Cdc3–Cdc12–Cdc11/Shs1. Rapid GTP hydrolysis by monomeric Cdc10 drives assembly of the core Cdc10 homodimer. The extended Cdc3 N terminus autoinhibits Cdc3 association with Cdc10 homodimers until prior Cdc3–Cdc12 interaction. Slow hydrolysis by monomeric Cdc12 and specific affinity of Cdc11 for transient Cdc12•GTP drive assembly of distinct trimers, Cdc11–Cdc12–Cdc3 or Shs1–Cdc12–Cdc3. Decreasing the cytosolic GTP:GDP ratio increases the incorporation of Shs1 vs Cdc11, which alters the curvature of filamentous septin rings. Our findings explain how GTP hydrolysis controls septin assembly, and uncover mechanisms by which cells construct defined septin complexes.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23689.001

Septin Mutations in Human Cancers

Septins are GTP-binding proteins that are evolutionarily and structurally related to the RAS oncogenes. Septin expression levels are altered in many cancers and new advances point to how abnormal septin expression may contribute to the progression of cancer. In contrast to the RAS GTPases, which are frequently mutated and actively promote tumorigenesis, little is known about the occurrence and role of septin mutations in human cancers. Here, we review septin missense mutations that are currently in the Catalog of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database. The majority of septin mutations occur in tumors of the large intestine, skin, endometrium and stomach. Over 25% of the annotated mutations in SEPT2, SEPT4, and SEPT9 belong to large intestine tumors. From all septins, SEPT9 and SEPT14 exhibit the highest mutation frequencies in skin, stomach and large intestine cancers. While septin mutations occur with frequencies lower than 3%, recurring mutations in several invariant and highly conserved amino acids are found across different septin paralogs and tumor types. Interestingly, a significant number of these mutations occur in the GTP-binding pocket and septin dimerization interfaces. Future studies may determine how these somatic mutations affect septin structure and function, whether they contribute to the progression of specific cancers and if they could serve as tumor-specific biomarkers.

Structural and Thermodynamic Properties of Septin 3 Investigated by Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering

Septins comprise a family of proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes and related to several human pathologies. They are constituted by three structural domains: the N- and C-terminal domains, highly variable in length and composition, and the central domain, involved in the guanine nucleotide (GTP) binding. Thirteen different human septins are known to form heterogeneous complexes or homofilaments, which are stabilized by specific interactions between the different interfaces present in the domains. In this work, we have investigated by in-solution small-angle x-ray scattering the structural and thermodynamic properties of a human septin 3 construct, SEPT3-GC, which contains both of both interfaces (G and NC) responsible for septin-septin interactions. In order to shed light on the role of these interactions, small-angle x-ray scattering measurements were performed in a wide range of temperatures, from 2 up to 56°C, both with and without a nonhydrolysable form of GTP (GTPγS). The acquired data show a temperature-dependent coexistence of monomers, dimers, and higher-order aggregates that were analyzed using a global fitting approach, taking into account the crystallographic structure of the recently reported SEPT3 dimer, PDB:3SOP. As a result, the enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity variations that control the dimer-monomer dissociation equilibrium in solution were derived and GTPγS was detected to increase the enthalpic stability of the dimeric species. Moreover, a temperature increase was observed to induce dissociation of SEPT3-GC dimers into monomers just preceding their reassembling into amyloid aggregates, as revealed by the Thioflavin-T fluorescence assays.

Assembly, molecular organization, and membrane-binding properties of development-specific septins

Septin complexes display remarkable plasticity in subunit composition, yet how a new subunit assembled into higher-order structures confers different functions is not fully understood. Here, this question is addressed in budding yeast, where during meiosis Spr3 and Spr28 replace the mitotic septin subunits Cdc12 and Cdc11 (and Shs1), respectively. In vitro, the sole stable complex that contains both meiosis-specific septins is a linear Spr28-Spr3-Cdc3-Cdc10-Cdc10-Cdc3-Spr3-Spr28 hetero-octamer. Only coexpressed Spr3 and Spr28 colocalize with Cdc3 and Cdc10 in mitotic cells, indicating that incorporation requires a Spr28-Spr3 protomer. Unlike their mitotic counterparts, Spr28-Spr3-capped rods are unable to form higher-order structures in solution but assemble to form long paired filaments on lipid monolayers containing phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate, mimicking presence of this phosphoinositide in the prospore membrane. Spr28 and Spr3 fail to rescue the lethality of a cdc11Δ cdc12Δ mutant, and Cdc11 and Cdc12 fail to restore sporulation proficiency to spr3Δ/spr3Δ spr28Δ/spr28Δ diploids. Thus, specific meiotic and mitotic subunits endow septin complexes with functionally distinct properties.

Cytosolic chaperones mediate quality control of higher-order septin assembly in budding yeast

Septin hetero-oligomers polymerize into cytoskeletal filaments with essential functions in many eukaryotic cell types. Mutations within the oligomerization interface that encompasses the GTP-binding pocket of a septin (its "G interface") cause thermoinstability of yeast septin hetero-oligomer assembly, and human disease. When coexpressed with its wild-type counterpart, a G interface mutant is excluded from septin filaments, even at moderate temperatures. We show that this quality control mechanism is specific to G interface mutants, operates during de novo septin hetero-oligomer assembly, and requires specific cytosolic chaperones. Chaperone overexpression lowers the temperature permissive for proliferation of cells expressing a G interface mutant as the sole source of a given septin. Mutations that perturb the septin G interface retard release from these chaperones, imposing a kinetic delay on the availability of nascent septin molecules for higher-order assembly. Un-expectedly, the disaggregase Hsp104 contributes to this delay in a manner that does not require its "unfoldase" activity, indicating a latent "holdase" activity toward mutant septins. These findings provide new roles for chaperone-mediated kinetic partitioning of non-native proteins and may help explain the etiology of septin-linked human diseases.

Cell and molecular biology of septins

Septins are a family of GTP-binding proteins that assemble into cytoskeletal filaments. Unlike other cytoskeletal components, septins form ordered arrays of defined stoichiometry that can polymerize into long filaments and bundle laterally. Septins associate directly with membranes and have been implicated in providing membrane stability and serving as diffusion barriers for membrane proteins. In addition, septins bind other proteins and have been shown to function as multimolecular scaffolds by recruiting components of signaling pathways. Remarkably, septins participate in a spectrum of cellular processes including cytokinesis, ciliogenesis, cell migration, polarity, and cell-pathogen interactions. Given their breadth of functions, it is not surprising that septin abnormalities have also been linked to human diseases. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of septin structure, assembly and function, and discuss these in the context of human disease.

Functional insight into the role of Orc6 in septin complex filament formation in Drosophila

Septins belong to a family of polymerizing GTP-binding proteins that are important for cytokinesis and other processes that involve spatial organization of the cell cortex. We reconstituted a recombinant Drosophila septin complex and compared activities of the wild-type and several mutant septin complex variants both in vitro and in vivo. We show that Drosophila septin complex functions depend on the intact GTP-binding and/or hydrolysis domains of Pnut, Sep1, and Sep2. The presence of the functional C-terminal domain of septins is required for the integrity of the complex. Drosophila Orc6 protein, the smallest subunit of the origin recognition complex (ORC), directly binds to septin complex and facilitates septin filament formation. Orc6 forms dimers through the interactions of its N-terminal, TFIIB-like domains. This ability of the protein suggests a direct bridging role for Orc6 in stimulating septin polymerization in Drosophila. Studies reported here provide a functional dissection of a Drosophila septin complex and highlight the basic conserved and divergent features among metazoan septin complexes.

Lean forward: Genetic analysis of temperature-sensitive mutants unfolds the secrets of oligomeric protein complex assembly

Multisubunit protein complexes are essential for cellular function. Genetic analysis of essential processes requires special tools, among which temperature-sensitive (Ts) mutants have historically been crucial. Many researchers assume that the effect of temperature on such mutants is to drive their proteolytic destruction. In fact, degradation-mediated elimination of mutant proteins likely explains only a fraction of the phenotypes associated with Ts mutants. Here I discuss insights gained from analysis of Ts mutants in oligomeric proteins, with particular focus on the study of septins, GTP-binding subunits of cytoskeletal filaments whose structures and functions are the subject of current investigation in my and many other labs. I argue that the kinds of unbiased forward genetic approaches that generate Ts mutants provide information that is largely inaccessible to modern reverse genetic methodologies, and will continue to drive our understanding of higher-order assembly by septins and other oligomeric proteins.

Distinct septin heteropolymers co-exist during multicellular development in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans

Septins are important components of the cytoskeleton that are highly conserved in eukaryotes and play major roles in cytokinesis, patterning, and many developmental processes. Septins form heteropolymers which assemble into higher-order structures including rings, filaments, and gauzes. In contrast to actin filaments and microtubules, the molecular mechanism by which septins assemble is not well-understood. Here, we report that in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, four core septins form heteropolymeric complexes. AspE, a fifth septin lacking in unicellular yeasts, interacts with only one of the core septins, and only during multicellular growth. AspE is required for proper localization of three of the core septins, and requires this same subset of core septins for its own unique cortical localization. The ΔaspE mutant lacks developmentally-specific septin higher-order structures and shows reduced spore production and slow growth with low temperatures and osmotic stress. Our results show that at least two distinct septin heteropolymer populations co-exist in A. nidulans, and that while AspE is not a subunit of either heteropolymer, it is required for assembly of septin higher-order structures found in multicellular development.

Cell type-specific expression of SEPT3-homology subgroup members controls the subunit number of heteromeric septin complexes

Heteromeric septin complexes serve as building blocks of filaments that organize the cortex of fungal and animal cells. This report addresses determinants that direct hetero-oligomerization of the 13 septin paralogues of mammals. It shows that three distinct septins direct assembly of tissue-specific heterotetramers.

Septins are filament-forming proteins important for organizing the cortex of animal and fungal cells. In mammals, 13 septin paralogues were recently shown to assemble into core heterohexamer and heterooctamer complexes, which serve as building blocks for apolar filamentous structures that differ among cell types. To determine how tissue-specific septin paralogue expression may shape core heteromer repertoires and thereby modulate properties of septin filaments, we devised protocols to analyze native septin heteromers with distinct numbers of subunits. Our evidence based on genetically manipulated human cells supports and extends recent concepts of homology subgroup–restricted assembly into distinct categories of apolar heterohexamers and heterooctamers. We also identify a category of tetramers that have a subunit composition equivalent to an octameric building block. These atypical tetramers are prevalent in lymphocytes and neural tissues, in which octamers are abundant but hexamers are rare. Our results can be explained by tissue-specific expression of SEPT3 subgroup members: SEPT3, SEPT9, and SEPT12. These serve as cognate subunits in either heterooctamers or atypical tetramers but exhibit different preferences in various tissues. The identified tissue-specific repertoires of septin heteromers provide insights into how higher-order septin structures with differential properties and stabilities may form in diverse animal cell types.

Septins in the glial cells of the nervous system

The capacity of cytoskeletal septins to mediate diverse cellular processes is related to their ability to assemble as distinct heterooligomers and higher order structures. However, in many cell types the functional relevance of septins is not well understood. This minireview provides a brief overview of our current knowledge about septins in the non-neuronal cells of the vertebrate nervous system, collectively termed ‘glial cells’, i.e., astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells. The dysregulation of septins observed in various models of myelin pathology is discussed with respect to implications for hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA) caused by mutations of the human SEPT9-gene.

Higher-order septin assembly is driven by GTP-promoted conformational changes: evidence from unbiased mutational analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Septin proteins bind GTP and heterooligomerize into filaments with conserved functions across a wide range of eukaryotes. Most septins hydrolyze GTP, altering the oligomerization interfaces; yet mutations designed to abolish nucleotide binding or hydrolysis by yeast septins perturb function only at high temperatures. Here, we apply an unbiased mutational approach to this problem. Mutations causing defects at high temperature mapped exclusively to the oligomerization interface encompassing the GTP-binding pocket, or to the pocket itself. Strikingly, cold-sensitive defects arise when certain of these same mutations are coexpressed with a wild-type allele, suggestive of a novel mode of dominance involving incompatibility between mutant and wild-type molecules at the septin–septin interfaces that mediate filament polymerization. A different cold-sensitive mutant harbors a substitution in an unstudied but highly conserved region of the septin Cdc12. A homologous domain in the small GTPase Ran allosterically regulates GTP-binding domain conformations, pointing to a possible new functional domain in some septins. Finally, we identify a mutation in septin Cdc3 that restores the high-temperature assembly competence of a mutant allele of septin Cdc10, likely by adopting a conformation more compatible with nucleotide-free Cdc10. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that GTP binding and hydrolysis promote, but are not required for, one-time events—presumably oligomerization-associated conformational changes—during assembly of the building blocks of septin filaments. Restrictive temperatures impose conformational constraints on mutant septin proteins, preventing new assembly and in certain cases destabilizing existing assemblies. These insights from yeast relate directly to disease-causing mutations in human septins.

The structure and properties of septin 3: a possible missing link in septin filament formation

The human genome codes for 13 members of a family of filament-forming GTP-binding proteins known as septins. These have been divided into four different subgroups on the basis of sequence similarity. The differences between the subgroups are believed to control their correct assembly into heterofilaments which have specific roles in membrane remodelling events. Many different combinations of the 13 proteins are theoretically possible and it is therefore important to understand the structural basis of specific filament assembly. However, three-dimensional structures are currently available for only three of the four subgroups. In the present study we describe the crystal structure of a construct of human SEPT3 which belongs to the outstanding subgroup. This construct (SEPT3-GC), which includes the GTP-binding and C-terminal domains, purifies as a nucleotide-free monomer, allowing for its characterization in terms of GTP-binding and hydrolysis. In the crystal structure, SEPT3-GC forms foreshortened filaments which employ the same NC and G interfaces observed in the heterotrimeric complex of human septins 2, 6 and 7, reinforcing the notion of 'promiscuous' interactions described previously. In the present study we describe these two interfaces and relate the structure to its tendency to form monomers and its efficiency in the hydrolysis of GTP. The relevance of these results is emphasized by the fact that septins from the SEPT3 subgroup may be important determinants of polymerization by occupying the terminal position in octameric units which themselves form the building blocks of at least some heterofilaments.