title: Micron-scale plasma membrane curvature is recognized by the septin cytoskeleton.
abstract: Cells change shape in response to diverse environmental and developmental conditions, creating topologies with micron-scale features. Although individual proteins can sense nanometer-scale membrane curvature, it is unclear if a cell could also use nanometer-scale components to sense micron-scale contours, such as the cytokinetic furrow and base of neuronal branches. Septins are filament-forming proteins that serve as signaling platforms and are frequently associated with areas of the plasma membrane where there is micron-scale curvature, including the cytokinetic furrow and the base of cell protrusions. We report here that fungal and human septins are able to distinguish between different degrees of micron-scale curvature in cells. By preparing supported lipid bilayers on beads of different curvature, we reconstitute and measure the intrinsic septin curvature preference. We conclude that micron-scale curvature recognition is a fundamental property of the septin cytoskeleton that provides the cell with a mechanism to know its local shape.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 The Bell Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755.
authors.forename: Maximilian S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jentzsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics and James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637.
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Oakes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Occhipinti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 The Bell Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543 amy.gladfelter@dartmouth.edu.
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Gladfelter
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D058112:Septins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D058112:Septins