Erfei Bi, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
Department: Cell and Developmental Biology
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
Room 1156, BRB II/III
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058
Office: 215-573-6676
Fax: 215-746-8791
Lab: 215-573-6677
Fax: 215-746-8791
Lab: 215-573-6677
Email:
ebi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
ebi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Publications
Links
Search PubMed for articles
Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.
Lab website
Search PubMed for articles
Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.
Lab website
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 InterestsCytokinesis, Septin Assembly and Remodeling, and Epithelial Tube Formation
Key words: Cytokinesis, abscission, actomyosin ring, exocytosis, ECM remodeling, septin, hepatocyte polarization, apical tube formation
Research Description
Research in our laboratory focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of cytokinesis and septin assembly and function, using both yeast and mammalian cells as model systems and an integrative approach involving genetics, advanced imaging, and biochemistry.
Our cytokinesis research centers on dissecting the architecture and regulation of the actomyosin ring, as well as the mechanisms governing targeted vesicle fusion and ECM remodeling at the division site. Our septin studies aim to uncover how septins undergo higher-order assembly and remodeling during the cell cycle, and how these processes contribute to successful cell division.
Another line of research investigates how cytokinesis is linked to hepatocyte polarization and bile canaliculus (BC) formation—two tightly coordinated processes essential to liver architecture and function—using both cell line and mouse models.
Rotation projects: interested students are welcome to discuss possible rotation projects.
Current members of the lab
Kangji Wang, Research Associate
Hiroki Okada, Research Associate
Xi Chen, Research Specialist D
Junya Hayase, Postdoc
Wuji Bi, Undergraduate student (Bioengineering)
Selected Publications
Marquardt J, Chen X, Bi E.: Reciprocal regulation by Elm1 and Gin4 controls septin hourglass assembly and remodeling. J Cell Biol 223: e202308143, May 2024.Wang K, Okada H, Wloka C, Bi E.: Unraveling the mechanisms and evolution of a two-domain module in IQGAP proteins for controlling eukaryotic cytokinesis. Cell Reports 42: 113510, Dec 2023.
Duan, Xudong; Chen, Xi; Wang, Kangji; Chen, Li; Glomb, Oliver; Johnsson, Nils; Feng, Lin; Zhou, Xiao-Qiu; Bi, Erfei: Essential role of the endocytic site-associated protein Ecm25 in stress-induced cell elongation Cell Reports 35(7): 109122, May 2021.
Okada H, MacTaggart B, Ohya Y, Bi E.: The kinetic landscape and interplay of protein networks in cytokinesis. iScience 24: 101917, Dec 2020.
Kangji Wang, Hiroki Okada and Erfei Bi: Comparative Analysis of the Roles of Non-muscle Myosin-IIs in Cytokinesis in Budding Yeast, Fission Yeast, and Mammalian Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 8: 593400, Nov 2020.
Joseph Marquardt, Lin-Lin Yao, Hiroki Okada, Tatyana Svitkina, Erfei Bi: The LKB1-like Kinase Elm1 Controls Septin Hourglass Assembly and Stability by Regulating Filament Pairing. Current Biology 30(12): 2386-2394, Jun 2020.
Chen, Xi; Wang, Kangji; Svitkina, Tatyana; Bi, Erfei: Critical Roles of a RhoGEF-Anillin Module in Septin Architectural Remodeling during Cytokinesis. Current Biology 30(8): 1477-1490.e3, Apr 2020.
Okada Hiroki, Wloka Carsten, Wu Jian-Qiu, Bi Erfei: Distinct Roles of Myosin-II Isoforms in Cytokinesis under Normal and Stressed Conditions. iScience 14: 69-87, Apr 2019.
Wang Kangji, Wloka Carsten, Bi Erfei: Non-muscle Myosin-II Is Required for the Generation of a Constriction Site for Subsequent Abscission. iScience 13: 69-81, Mar 2019.
Marquardt Joseph, Chen Xi, Bi Erfei: Architecture, remodeling, and functions of the septin cytoskeleton. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken, N.J.) 76(1): 7-14, Jan 2019.