Erfei Bi | Faculty | About Us | Perelman School of Medicine | Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests

Mechanisms of Cell Polarization, Cytokinesis, and Septin Assembly and Function

Key words: Cytokinesis, abscission, actomyosin ring, exocytosis, ECM remodeling, septin, hepatocyte polarization, apical tube formation

Research Description

Research in the Bi laboratory is aimed at understanding the mechanisms of cytokinesis and septin assembly and function using both yeast and mammalian cells as the experimental systems and an integrative approach involving genetics, cutting-edge imaging technologies, and biochemistry. The cytokinesis projects focus on dissecting the architecture and regulation of the actomyosin ring as well as the mechanisms of targeted vesicle fusion and ECM remodeling at the division site. The septin projects focus on elucidating the mechanisms and functional impact of septin high-order assembly and remodeling at the division site during the cell cycle.

The Bi laboratory also attempts to elucidate the mechanisms of hepatocyte polarization and apical tube formation using cell culture models and an integrated experimental approach.

Rotation projects: interested students are welcome to discuss possible rotation projects.

Current members of the lab

Kangji Wang, Postdoc
Hiroki Okada, Postdoc
Xi Chen, Postdoc
Joseph Marquardt, Postdoc
Tanya Gupta, Work-study student

Selected Publications

Okada H, MacTaggart B, Ohya Y, Bi E.: The kinetic landscape and interplay of protein networks in cytokinesis. iScience 24: 101917, Dec 2020.

Chen X, Wang K, Svitkina T, Bi E.: Critical Roles of a RhoGEF-Anillin Module in Septin Architectural Remodeling during Cytokinesis. Curr Biol 30: 1477-1490, Apr 2020.

Marquardt J, Yao LL, Okada H, Svitkina T, Bi E.: The LKB1-like Kinase Elm1 Controls Septin Hourglass Assembly and Stability by Regulating Filament Pairing. Curr Biol 30: 2386-2394, Jun 2020.

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.

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.

Oh Younghoon, Schreiter Jennifer H, Okada Hiroki, Wloka Carsten, Okada Satoshi, Yan Di, Duan Xudong, Bi Erfei: Hof1 and Chs4 Interact via F-BAR Domain and Sel1-like Repeats to Control Extracellular Matrix Deposition during Cytokinesis. Current biology : CB 27(18): 2878-2886.e5, Sep 2017.

Ong Katy, Wloka Carsten, Okada Satoshi, Svitkina Tatyana, Bi Erfei: Architecture and dynamic remodelling of the septin cytoskeleton during the cell cycle. Nature communications 5: 5698, Dec 2014.

Wang Ting, Yanger Kilangsungla, Stanger Ben Z, Cassio Doris, Bi Erfei: Cytokinesis defines a spatial landmark for hepatocyte polarization and apical lumen formation. Journal of cell science 127(Pt 11): 2483-92, Jun 2014.

Okada Satoshi, Leda Marcin, Hanna Julia, Savage Natasha S, Bi Erfei, Goryachev Andrew B: Daughter cell identity emerges from the interplay of Cdc42, septins, and exocytosis. Developmental cell 26(2): 148-61, Jul 2013.

Wloka Carsten, Vallen Elizabeth A, Thé Lydia, Fang Xiaodong, Oh Younghoon, Bi Erfei: Immobile myosin-II plays a scaffolding role during cytokinesis in budding yeast. The Journal of cell biology 200(3): 271-86, Feb 2013.