Cytokinetic abscission: Phosphoinositides and ESCRTs direct the final cut

Cytokinetic abscission involves the fine and regulated recruitment of membrane remodeling proteins that participate in the abscission of the intracellular bridge that connects the two dividing cells. This essential process is mediated by the concomitant activity of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) and the vesicular trafficking directed to the midbody. Phosphoinositides (PtdIns), produced at plasma membrane and endosomes, act as molecular intermediates by recruiting effector proteins involved in multiple cellular processes, such as intracellular signalling, endo- and exo-cytosis and membrane remodelling events. Emerging evidences suggest that PtdIns have an active role in recruiting key elements that control the stability and the remodelling of the cytoskeleton from the furrow ingression to the abscission, at the end of cytokinesis. Accordingly, a possible concomitant and coordinated activity between PtdIns production and ESCRT machinery assembly could also exist and recent findings are pointing the attention on poorly understood ESCRT subunits potentially able to associate with PtdIns rich membranes. Although further studies are required to link PtdIns to ESCRT machinery during abscission, this might represent a promising field of study. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.