Biology subjects

Gronemeyer, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Gronemeyer, T..

8 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A nucleotide-triggered molecular switch orchestrating septin polymerization

Septins are conserved cytoskeletal GTP-binding proteins that form higher-order structures critical for cytokinesis and polarized growth across opisthokonts. In budding yeast and humans, four homologous septins assemble into hetero-octameric protofilaments through alternating interactions between adjacent G-domains (G-interface) or N- and C-termini (NC-interface), which then polymerize end-to-end into filaments. How nucleotide binding and hydrolysis control filament assembly has remained elusive. We uncover a septin-specific mechanism in which nucleotide binding stabilizes the monomeric G-interface and primes it for protofilament formation. Cryo-EM and DEER spectroscopy reveal nucleotide-induced conformational changes that engage the G-interface and enable an NC-compatible conformation absent in the nucleotide-free state. In vitro binding and reconstitution assays confirm that G-interface formation is strictly nucleotide-dependent and required for subsequent NC-interface assembly. These findings establish unidirectional allosteric signaling from the G-to the NC-interface, revealing the molecular basis for controlled septin protofilament assembly.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Interface integrity in septin protofilaments is maintained by an arginine residue conserved from yeast to man.

The septins are conserved, filament-forming, guanine nucleotide binding cytoskeletal proteins. They assemble into palindromic protofilaments which polymerize further into higher-ordered structures that participate in essential intracellular processes such as cytokinesis or polarity establishment. Septins belong structurally to the P-Loop NTPases but, unlike their relatives Ras or Rho, do not mediate signals to effectors through GTP binding and hydrolysis. Biochemical approaches addressing how and why septins utilize nucleotides are hampered by the lack of nucleotide free complexes. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we determined structural alterations and inter-subunit binding free energies in human and yeast septin dimer structures and in their in silico generated apo forms. An interchain saltbridge network in the septin unique {beta}-meander, conserved across all kingdoms of septin containing species, is destabilized upon nucleotide removal, concomitant with disruption of the entire G-interface. Within this network, we identified a conserved arginine residue, Arg({beta}b), as the central interaction hub. The essential role of Arg({beta}b) for interface integrity was confirmed species-overlapping in human and yeast septins by in vitro and in vivo experimentation.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

An in silico approach to determine inter-subunit affinities in human septin complexes

The septins are a conserved family of filament-forming guanine nucleotide binding proteins, often named the fourth component of the cytoskeleton. Correctly assembled septin structures are required for essential intracellular processes such as cytokinesis, vesicular transport, polarity establishment, and cellular adhesion. Structurally, septins belong to the P-Loop NTPases but they do not mediate signals to effectors through GTP binding and hydrolysis. GTP binding and hydrolysis are believed to contribute to septin complex integrity, but biochemical approaches addressing this topic are hampered by the stability of septin complexes after recombinant expression and the lack of nucleotide-depleted complexes. To overcome this limitation, we used a molecular dynamics-based approach to determine inter-subunit binding free energies in available human septin dimer structures and in their apo forms, which we generated in silico. The nucleotide in the GTPase active subunits SEPT2 and SEPT7, but not in SEPT6, was identified as a stabilizing element in the G interface as it is coordinated at its ribose ring to conserved amino acids. Removal of GDP from SEPT2 and SEPT7 results in flipping of a conserved Arg residue and disruption of an extensive hydrogen bond network in the septin unique element, concomitant with a decreased inter-subunit affinity.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

The concerted action of SEPT9 and EPLIN modulates the adhesion and migration of human fibroblasts

Septins are cytoskeletal proteins that participate in cell adhesion, migration and polarity establishment. The septin subunit SEPT9 directly interacts with the single LIM domain of EPLIN, an actin bundling protein. Using a human SEPT9 KO fibroblast cell line we show that cell adhesion and migration are regulated by the interplay between both proteins. The low motility of SEPT9-depleted cells could be partly rescued by increased levels of EPLIN. The normal organization of actin-related filopodia and stress fibers was directly dependent on the expression level of SEPT9 and EPLIN. Increased levels of SEPT9 and EPLIN enhanced the size of focal adhesions in cell protrusions, correlating with a stabilization of actin bundles, whereas decreased levels have the opposite effect. Our work thus establishes the interaction between SEPT9 and Eplin as important link between the septin and the actin cytoskeleton that influences cell adhesion and motility.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Biochemical characterization of a human septin octamer

1Septins are part of the cytoskeleton and polymerize into non-polar filaments of heteromeric hexamers or octamers. They belong to the class of P-loop GTPases but the roles of GTP binding and hydrolysis on filament formation and dynamics are not well understood. The basic human septin building block is the septin rod, a hetero-octamer composed of SEPT2, SEPT6, SEPT7, and SEPT9 with a stoichiometry of 2:2:2:2 (2-7-6-9-9-6-7-2). Septin rods polymerize by end-to-end and lateral joining into linear filaments and higher ordered structures such as rings, sheets, and gauzes. We purified a recombinant human septin octamer from E. coli for in vitro experimentation that is able to polymerize into filaments. We could show that the C-terminal region of the central SEPT9 subunit contributes to filament formation and that the human septin rod decreases the rate of in vitro actin polymerization. We provide further first kinetic data on the nucleotide uptake- and exchange properties of human hexameric and octameric septin rods. We could show that nucleotide uptake prior to hydrolysis is a dynamic process and that a bound nucleotide is exchangeable. However, the hydrolyzed {gamma}-phosphate is not released from the native protein complex. We consequently propose that GTP hydrolysis in human septins does not follow the typical mechanism known from other small GTPases.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2019

A time resolved interaction analysis of Bem1 reconstructs the flow of Cdc42 during polar growth

Cdc42 organizes cellular polarity and directs the formation of cellular structures in many organisms. By locating Cdc24, the source of active Cdc42, to the growing edge of the yeast cell, the scaffold protein Bem1 is instrumental in shaping the cellular gradient of Cdc42. This gradient instructs bud formation, bud growth, or cytokinesis through the actions of a diverse set of effector proteins. To address how Bem1 participates in this transformation we systematically mapped its protein interactions in time and space. SPLIFF analysis defined a unique ensemble of Bem1 interaction-states for each cell cycle stage. The characterization of mutants of Bem1 that interact with a discrete subset of the interaction partners allowed to assign specific functions to different interaction states and identified the determinants for their cellular distributions. The analysis characterizes Bem1 as a cell cycle specific shuttle that distributes active Cdc42 from its source to its effectors and helps to convert the PAKs Cla4 and Ste20 into their active conformation.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Cdc24, the source of active Cdc42, transiently interacts with septins to create a positive feedback between septin assembly and bud site formation in yeast cells.

Yeast cells select at the beginning of each cell cycle the position of their new bud. The recruitment of the septins to this prospective bud site (PBS) is one of the critical events in a complex assembly pathway that culminates in the outgrowth of a new daughter cell. The septin-rods follow hereby the high concentration of Cdc42GTP that is generated by the focused location of its GEF Cdc24. We show that Cdc24 not only activates Cdc42 but temporarily interacts shortly before budding with Cdc11, the subunit that caps septin rods at its both ends. Mutations in Cdc24 that reduce the affinity to Cdc11 impair septin assembly and decrease the stability of the polarity patch. The interaction between septins and Cdc24 thus reinforces bud assembly at sites where septin structures are formed. Once the septins polymerize into the ring, Cdc24 transfers to its center and directs from there the further outgrowth of the membrane.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2018

An interaction network of the human SEPT9 established by quantitative mass spectrometry reveals an interplay with myosin motors

SummaryPhenotypic variations of an organism or a single cell often arise from alterations of protein interaction networks. We provide here an interaction network of the human SEPT9, an important component of the human septin cytoskeleton.\n\nAbstractExperimentally deciphering and understanding the interaction network of a particular protein provides often evidence for so far unknown functions. For the septins, a class of cytoskeletal proteins, targeted high-throughput approaches that aim at systematically deciphering interaction partners have not yet been performed. Septins regulate the organization of the acin cytoskeleton, vesicle transport and fusion, chromosome alignment-and segregation, and cytokinesis. SEPT9 is part of the core septin hetero-octamer in human cells which is composed of SEPT2, SEPT6, SEPT7, and SEPT9. SEPT9 has been linked to a variety of intracellular functions as well as to diseases and diverse types of cancer. We applied a quantitative proteomics approach to establish an interactome of SEPT9 in human fibroblast cells. We identified among others so far unknown interaction partners from the myosin family and could provide evidence that SEPT9 participates in vesicle transport from and to the plasma membrane as well as in the attachment of actin stress fibers to cellular adhesions.

cell biology↗