title: The emerging functions of septins in metazoans.
abstract: Septins form a subfamily of highly related GTP-binding proteins conserved from eukaryotic protists to mammals. In most cases, septins function in close association with cell membranes and the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton to regulate a wide variety of key cellular processes. Further underscoring their importance, septin abnormalities are associated with several human diseases. Remarkably, septins have the ability to polymerize into assemblies of different sizes in vitro and in vivo. In cells, these structures act in the formation of diffusion barriers and scaffolds that maintain subcellular polarity. Here, we focus on the emerging roles of vertebrate septins in ciliogenesis, neurogenesis, tumorigenesis and host-pathogen interactions, and discuss whether unifying themes underlie the molecular function of septins in health and disease.
authors: Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Schafmattstrasse 18, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. juha.saarikangas@bc.biol.ethz.ch
authors: Juha
authors: J
authors: Saarikangas
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Barral
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D058112:Septins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D058112:Septins