Structural studies on the assembly of septin complexes by transmission electron microscopy and single particle analysis

• Grant number: 18/20209-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2019
• End date: April 23, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Richard Charles Garratt
• Grantee: Deborah Cezar Mendonça
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/10247-0 - Single-particle and sub-tomogram analysis of septin filaments, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Septins are cytoskeletal GTPases involved in a number of important intracellular processes including cell division, vesicle trafficking, exocytosis, among others. In addition, their role in the formation of barriers which prevent the free diffusion of plasma membrane components has also been reported. In humans, changes in the expression levels of septins are related to several types of Cancer and mutations in some amino acids are also related to male infertility and temperature-sensitive phenotypes in yeast. They are also found in protein clusters in the brain of patients with neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Septins are capable of polymerizing in the form of heterocomplexes resulting in filaments that subsequently organize into higher order structures. However, there are many mechanical aspects of these proteins that are not fully understood, including how heterocomplexes cluster correctly. This study aims to analyze the septins complexes that have not yet been studied in structural terms using electron transmission electron microscopy and isolated particle analysis, contributing to a better understanding of the mechanism of polymerization and self-assembly of these proteins. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LEONARDO, DIEGO A.; CAVINI, ITALO A.; SALA, FERNANDA A.; MENDONCA, DEBORAH C.; ROSA, HIGOR V. D.; KUMAGAI, PATRICIA S.; CRUSCA JR, EDSON; VALADARES, NAPOLEAO F.; MARQUES, IVO A.; BRANDAO-NETO, JOSE; et al. Orientational Ambiguity in Septin Coiled Coils and its Structural Basis. Journal of Molecular Biology, v. 433, n. 9, APR 30 2021. (18/20209-5, 16/04658-9, 17/07709-6, 19/22000-9, 14/15546-1, 15/00062-1, 13/04433-9, 15/16811-3, 18/19992-7)

MENDONCA, DEBORAH C.; GUIMARAES, SAMUEL L.; PEREIRA, HUMBERTO D'MUNIZ; PINTO, ANDRESSA A.; DE FARIAS, MARCELO A.; DE GODOY, ANDRE S.; ARAUJO, ANA P. U.; VAN HEEL, MARIN; PORTUGAL, V, RODRIGO; GARRATT, RICHARD C.. An atomic model for the human septin hexamer by cryo-EM. Journal of Molecular Biology, v. 433, n. 15, JUL 23 2021. (17/15340-2, 18/20209-5, 18/20816-9, 14/15546-1)

CASTRO, DANIELLE K. S. V.; ROSA, HIGOR V. D.; MENDONC, DEBORAH C.; CAVINI, ITALO A.; ARAUJO, ANA P. U.; GARRATT, RICHARD C.. Dissecting the Binding Interface of the Septin Polymerization Enhancer Borg BD3. Journal of Molecular Biology, v. 435, n. 13, p. 16-pg., 2023-05-10. (14/15546-1, 18/20209-5, 18/19992-7, 20/02897-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MENDONÇA, Deborah Cezar. Structural studies of septin complexes analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. 2023. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT) São Carlos.