Erfei Bi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
Department: Cell and Developmental Biology
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
1012 BRB II/III
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058
Office: 215-573-6676
Fax: 215-898-9871
Fax: 215-898-9871
Email:
ebi@mail.med.upenn.edu
ebi@mail.med.upenn.edu
Publications
Education:
B.S.
Wuhan University, P. R. China, 1985.
Ph.D.
University of Kansas Medical Center, 1991.
Permanent linkB.S.
Wuhan University, P. R. China, 1985.
Ph.D.
University of Kansas Medical Center, 1991.
Description of Research Expertise
Research InterestsDevelopment of Eukaryotic Cell Polarity and Mechanisms of Cytokinesis
Key words: Cell polarity, cytokinesis, septins, actin cytoskeleton, Cdc42 signaling, exocytosis, and morphogenesis
Research Description
Research in our laboratory is aimed at elucidating the general mechanisms of polarity development and cytokinesis, two fundamental processes essential for all cellular lives. We investigate these problems using the model organism, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and employing an integrated approach involving genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry.
Cell polarization or the formation of distinct cellular domains is essential for development. The conserved small GTPase Cdc42 plays a central role in polarity establishment and maintenance in eukaryotic organisms ranging from yeast to humans. One major goal of our research is to determine how Cdc42 controls simultaneous assembly of actin cables and septin ring at the same cellular location, which guide secretion and restrict cortical proteins to a specific cellular domain, respectively. Another major goal is to determine how Cdc42 activity is regulated in time and space by its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and multiple GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) during polarity development.
Cytokinesis in fungi and animal cells is achieved by the concerted action of a contractile actomyosin ring (AMR) and targeted membrane deposition/extracellular matrix remodeling at the cleavage site. Our goal is to determine how the AMR is assembled in a spatiotemporally regulated manner and how the AMR is coupled to membrane trafficking machine during cytokinesis.
Rotation projects:
On cell polarity:
1. Determine how Cdc42 controls septin ring assembly.
2. Determine how Cdc42 GAPs regulate polarity establishment and maintenance.
3. Determine how septin complexes are assembled into higher order structures such as septin filaments, rings, and hourglasses.
4. Determine how cortical septin structures are anchored to the plasma membrane.
On cytokinesis:
1. Determine how the actomyosin ring (AMR) is assembled.
2. Determine how the essential light chain for the type II myosin is involved in the coordination of the AMR and membrane trafficking during cytokinesis.
3. Define molecular mechanisms underlying ECM remodeling (primary septin formation in yeast) during cytokinesis.
Current members of the lab
Younghoon Oh (Postdoc.)
Julia Hanna (Research Specialist)
Rachel Meisel (Independent-study student)
Eric Chen (Work-study student)
Selected Publications
Gao, Xiang-Dong. Albert, Stefan. Tcheperegine, Serguei E. Burd, Christopher G. Gallwitz, Dieter. Bi, Erfei.: The GAP activity of Msb3p and Msb4p for the Rab GTPase Sec4p is required for efficient exocytosis and actin organization. Journal of Cell Biology 162(4): 635-46, Aug 18 2003.Luo, Jianying. Vallen, Elizabeth A. Dravis, Christopher. Tcheperegine, Serguei E. Drees, Becky. Bi, Erfei.: Identification and functional analysis of the essential and regulatory light chains of the only type II myosin Myo1p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Journal of Cell Biology 165(6): 843-55, Jun 21 2004.
X.-D. Gao, J.P. Caviston, S.E. Tcheperegine, and E. Bi: Pxl1p, a paxillin-like protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, may coordinate Cdc42p and Rho1p functions during polarized growth. Mol. Biol. Cell(15), 3977-3985, 2004.
M.K. Balasubramanian, E. Bi, and M. Glotzer: Comparative analysis of cytokinesis in budding yeast, fission yeast and animal cells. Curr. Biol. 14: R797-R805 2004 Notes: Peer reviewed.
Tcheperegine, Serguei E. Gao, Xiang-Dong. Bi, Erfei.: Regulation of cell polarity by interactions of Msb3 and Msb4 with Cdc42 and polarisome components. Molecular & Cellular Biology 25(19): 8567-80, Oct 2005.
Iwase, Masayuki. Luo, Jianying. Nagaraj, Satish. Longtine, Mark. Kim, Hyong Bai. Haarer, Brian K. Caruso, Carlo. Tong, Zongtian. Pringle, John R. Bi, Erfei.: Role of a Cdc42p effector pathway in recruitment of the yeast septins to the presumptive bud site. Molecular Biology of the Cell 17(3): 1110-25, Mar 2006.
Gao, Xiang-Dong. Sperber, Lauren M. Kane, Steven A. Tong, Zongtian. Tong, Amy Hin Yan. Boone, Charles. Bi, Erfei.: Sequential and distinct roles of the cadherin domain-containing protein Axl2p in cell polarization in yeast cell cycle. Molecular Biology of the Cell 18(7): 2542-60, Jul 2007.
Tong, Zongtian. Gao, Xiang-Dong. Howell, Audrey S. Bose, Indrani. Lew, Daniel J. Bi, Erfei.: Adjacent positioning of cellular structures enabled by a Cdc42 GTPase-activating protein-mediated zone of inhibition. Journal of Cell Biology 179(7): 1375-84, Dec 31 2007.
Park, Hay-Oak. Bi, Erfei.: Central roles of small GTPases in the development of cell polarity in yeast and beyond. [Review] [651 refs] Microbiology & Molecular Biology Reviews 71(1): 48-96, Mar 2007.
Nishihama Ryuichi, Schreiter Jennifer H, Onishi Masayuki, Vallen Elizabeth A, Hanna Julia, Moravcevic Katarina, Lippincott Margaret F, Han Haesun, Lemmon Mark A, Pringle John R, Bi Erfei: Role of Inn1 and its interactions with Hof1 and Cyk3 in promoting cleavage furrow and septum formation in S. cerevisiae. The Journal of cell biology 185(6): 995-1012, Jun 2009.