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.@en

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.@en

Water is known to play an important role in collagen self-assembly, but it is still largely unclear how water-collagen interactions influence the assembly process and determine the fibril network properties. Here, we use the H 2O/D 2O isotope effect on the hydrogen-bond strength in water to investigate the role of hydration in collagen self-assembly. We dissolve collagen in H 2O and D 2O and compare the growth kinetics and the structure of the collagen assemblies formed in these water isotopomers. Surprisingly, collagen assembly occurs ten times faster in D 2O than in H 2O, and collagen in D 2O self-assembles into much thinner fibrils, that form a more inhomogeneous and softer network, with a fourfold reduction in elastic modulus when compared to H 2O. Combining spectroscopic measurements with atomistic simulations, we show that collagen in D 2O is less hydrated than in H 2O. This partial dehydration lowers the enthalpic penalty for water removal and reorganization at the collagen-water interface, increasing the self-assembly rate and the number of nucleation centers, leading to thinner fibrils and a softer network. Coarse-grained simulations show that the acceleration in the initial nucleation rate can be reproduced by the enhancement of electrostatic interactions. These results show that water acts as a mediator between collagen monomers, by modulating their interactions so as to optimize the assembly process and, thus, the final network properties. We believe that isotopically modulating the hydration of proteins can be a valuable method to investigate the role of water in protein structural dynamics and protein self-assembly.@en

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.@en

The world we inhabit has long been home to an immense multitude of living beings: small bacteria and other microscopic organisms that elude our vision, as well as plants, fungi, and animals. Despite these vast differences in size and appearance, we classify all of these entities as living. Scientists, including the author of this thesis, have been captivated by the mechanisms that sustain the diversity of life, all while maintaining fundamental characteristics that define all this diversity of organisms as alive. At the basis of this remarkable diversity and functionality of life are cells. From single cells existing as unicellular organisms to multiple cells interacting to form multicellular organisms, cells are the minimum living building block of life. Cells between and even within single organisms are very diverse in shape, components, functionalities, and organization. Even with these differences, they all share common traits: cells have a cell membrane that separates their interior from their exterior, possess genetic material that contains all the information needed for the cell to function, they use components from their environment to fuel and renew themselves, and they are able to divide to reproduce. In order to carry out these functions: cells generate a multitude of components, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, sugars, and other small metabolites, that are stored inside the cell, making it a complex self-sustaining chemical reactor with tens of thousands of interconnected and sometimes redundant reactions. Understanding how the basic commonalities between cells emerge from the intricate interaction of those reactions is the key to understand what is life and how it works...@en

Septins are a family of conserved eukaryotic GTP-binding proteins that can form cytoskeletal filaments and higher-order structures from hetero-oligomeric complexes. They interact with other cytoskeletal components and the cell membrane to participate in important cellular functions such as migration and cell division. Due to the complexity of septins' many interactions, the large number of septin genes (13 in humans), and the ability of septins to form hetero-oligomeric complexes with different subunit compositions, cell-free reconstitution is a vital strategy to understand the basics of septin biology. The present paper first describes a method to purify recombinant septins in their hetero-oligomeric form using a two-step affinity chromatography approach. Then, the process of quality control used to check for the purity and integrity of the septin complexes is detailed. This process combines native and denaturing gel electrophoresis, negative stain electron microscopy, and interferometric scattering microscopy. Finally, a description of the process to check for the polymerization ability of septin complexes using negative stain electron microscopy and fluorescent microscopy is given. This demonstrates that it is possible to produce high-quality human septin hexamers and octamers containing different isoforms of septin_9, as well as Drosophila septin hexamers.@en