Septins: Structural Insights, Functional Dynamics, and Implications in Health and Disease

Abstract

Septins are a class of proteins with diverse and vital roles in cell biology. Structurally, they form hetero‐oligomeric complexes and assemble into filaments, contributing to the organization of cells. These filaments act as scaffolds, aiding in processes like membrane remodeling, cytokinesis, and cell motility. Functionally, septins are essential to cell division, playing essential roles in cytokinetic furrow formation and maintaining the structural integrity of the contractile ring. They also regulate membrane trafficking and help organize intracellular organelles. In terms of physiology, septins facilitate cell migration, phagocytosis, and immune responses by maintaining membrane integrity and influencing cytoskeletal dynamics. Septin dysfunction is associated with pathophysiological conditions. Mutations in septin genes have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as hereditary spastic paraplegias, underscoring their significance in neuronal function. Septins also play a role in cancer and infectious diseases, making them potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Septins serve as pivotal components of intracellular signaling networks, engaging with diverse proteins like kinases and phosphatases. By modulating the activity of these molecules, septins regulate vital cellular pathways. This integral role in signaling makes septins central to orchestrating cellular responses to environmental stimuli. This review mainly focuses on the human septins, their structural composition, regulatory functions, and implication in pathophysiological conditions underscores their importance in fundamental cellular biology. Moreover, their potential as therapeutic targets across various diseases further emphasizes their significance.