University of Virginia-Main Campus · BiologyThe Septin Dynamics Lab
Elias T Spiliotis · Charlottesville, Virginia
Research Focus
Elias T Spiliotis’ lab at the University of Virginia studies how membrane transport within cells is regulated, particularly in polar cells like neurons and epithelial cells. Their research aims to uncover the roles of septins, a unique family of proteins, in controlling the direction and movement of cell components. By understanding these mechanisms, the lab hopes to find new insights that can lead to better therapies for diseases linked to cellular transport dysfunctions, such as neurodegeneration and cancer.
membrane traffickingseptinsneurodegenerationcell polarityepithelial cellsmotor proteinscell biologyciliopathydisease mechanisms
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how septins interact with microtubules to regulate cell component movement.
AIM 02Map different septin complexes to specific microtubule subsets in polarized cells.
AIM 03Examine the role of septins in the transport of endosomes along microtubules.
AIM 04Discover how septin function is regulated by phosphorylation.
AIM 05Develop new tools to study septin depletion in cells.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturecryogenic electron tomographyimmunofluorescence microscopyPCRWestern blottingbiochemical assayssuper-resolution microscopygene editing (CRISPR)in vitro reconstitution techniques
Output against the department
Publications101bottom 35% of dept.669th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.3kbottom 32% of dept.701st of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.