CetZ filament

cellstructuremech:cetz_filament · Cytoskeleton · Filament · Proposed

An archaeal tubulin-like cytoskeletal filament assembled from CetZ proteins that forms dynamic envelope-associated structures and supports cell-shape remodeling such as rod development in Haloferax volcanii. [DOI:10.1038/nature13983]

Part of: GO:0005856 — cytoskeleton (no local record)

UniProt location names: UniProt Consortium, CC BY 4.0. Reference label and route sources.

Components

Component	Type	Part of / acts on	Grounding	Genes	Stoichiometry	Essential	Role
CetZ1-like proteins	Protein	part of	Reviewed label only (reviewed name; no accession asserted)	cetZ1		ESSENTIAL	Archaeal CetZ tubulin/FtsZ-superfamily GTPases, typified by Haloferax volcanii CetZ1, that assemble into dynamic envelope-associated cytoskeletal filaments for cell-shape control. `DOI:10.1038/nature13983` Duggin et al. 2015 showed that Haloferax volcanii CetZ1 forms dynamic cytoskeletal structures in vivo and that CetZ crystal structures adopt the FtsZ/tubulin superfamily fold. `DOI:10.3390/biom13010134` Brown and Duggin 2023 reviewed the diversity and potential multifunctionality of archaeal CetZ tubulin-like cytoskeletal proteins.

Taxonomic distribution

NCBITaxon:2246 Haloferax volcanii — COMMON: Haloferax volcanii is the model haloarchaeon in which CetZ1 dynamic filaments and CetZ-dependent rod-cell development were experimentally characterized. [DOI:10.1038/nature13983]

Canonical examples

NCBITaxon:2246 Haloferax volcanii — Pleomorphic haloarchaeon used to connect CetZ1 dynamic cytoskeletal structures to envelope remodeling, rod-shape development and efficient swimming motility. [DOI:10.1038/nature13983]

Functions

Haloferax rod cell development — CetZ1-containing filaments remodel the Haloferax volcanii cell envelope to promote the transition from irregular plate-shaped cells into motile rod-shaped cells.
- DOI:10.1038/nature13983 Duggin et al. 2015 showed that CetZ1 is required for rod-shaped cell development and efficient swimming motility in Haloferax volcanii.

Mechanism graphs

CetZ filaments support Haloferax rod-cell development (FUNCTION)

CetZ1-like proteins polymerize into envelope-associated dynamic filaments that remodel the Haloferax volcanii envelope and promote rod-shape development.

Subject	Predicate	Object	Evidence
CetZ1-like proteins	polymerize into	CetZ filament	`DOI:10.1038/nature13983` Duggin et al. 2015 resolved CetZ protofilament-like crystal packing and observed dynamic CetZ1-GFP filaments in Haloferax cells.
CetZ filament	associates with	archaeal cell envelope	`DOI:10.1038/nature13983` Duggin et al. 2015 localized CetZ1-GFP spots and short filaments at or near the cell envelope.
CetZ filament	supports	Haloferax rod cell development	`DOI:10.1038/nature13983` Duggin et al. 2015 connected CetZ1 structures with envelope remodeling and rod-cell development.

Discussions

CURATION_TODO (OPEN): Resolve exact source-neutral grounding for archaeal filament-forming CetZ1-like proteins. This first record curates CetZ1-supported cell-shape cytoskeletal filaments without asserting that a broad FtsZ/tubulin domain, a broad CetZ family accession or a Haloferax-specific accession exactly denotes archaeal CetZ1-like filament-forming proteins.
INTERPRETATION (RESOLVED): FtsZ division proteins are paralogous tubulin-family proteins rather than CetZ filament constituents. CetZ proteins coexist with FtsZ in many archaea and the Haloferax FtsZ1 division ring is distinct from the dynamic CetZ1 structures that control rod development.
INTERPRETATION (RESOLVED): CetZ2 is not asserted as a constituent of the CetZ1 rod-development filament. This first CetZ record follows the experimentally localized CetZ1-GFP dynamic structures that support Haloferax rod-cell development; it leaves CetZ2 out of the component list until its relationship to that filament has direct structure evidence.

Evidence

DOI:10.1038/nature13983 Duggin et al. 2015, 'CetZ tubulin-like proteins control archaeal cell shape', Nature.
DOI:10.3390/biom13010134 Brown and Duggin 2023, 'Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal Proteins', Biomolecules.
GO:0005856 — cytoskeleton The containing cytoskeletal framework; this filament system is part of it, not a type of the whole framework.
GO:0099513 — polymeric cytoskeletal fiber Broader polymeric cytoskeletal fiber class; this specific protein polymer retains its local identity.

Curation history

2026-09-11T11:45:00Z codex · CREATED_RECORD — Scaffolded by scripts/new_record.py
2026-09-11T11:45:33Z codex · EXPANDED_RECORD — Added cytoskeleton parentage, CetZ component curation, archaeal and Haloferax volcanii scope, rod-cell-development function, DOI evidence, a nonmechanistic CetZ-to-envelope graph, and CetZ grounding and FtsZ boundary discussions.
2026-09-11T11:52:35Z codex · REVIEW_FIX — Addressed PR review issues #473 and #474 by removing the broad Archaea taxonomic row, narrowing the CetZ component and graph from CetZ1/CetZ2 proteins to CetZ1-like proteins, and adding a resolved CetZ2 boundary discussion.
2026-10-11T17:56:32Z codex · ADDRESS_SAVED_REVIEW — Addressed #2232: Corrected cytoskeleton parthood and retained the specific filament-system identity.

Source: data/structures/cytoskeleton/cetz_filament.yaml