Faculty

Erfei Bi, Ph.D.

Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

Department: Cell and Developmental Biology

Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information

Room 1156, KRB II/III
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058

Office: 215-573-6676
Fax: 215-746-8791
Lab: 215-573-6677

Email:
ebi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Publications

Search PubMed for articles

Education
B.S.
Wuhan University, P. R. China, 1985.
Ph.D.
University of Kansas Medical Center, 1991.

Links
Search PubMed for articles
Lab website
Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.

Permanent link

> Perelman School of Medicine > Faculty > Details

Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests

Cytokinesis, Septin Assembly and Remodeling, Cell Polarity, and Epithelial Tube Formation

Key words: Cytokinesis, abscission, actomyosin ring, exocytosis, ECM remodeling, septins, cell polarity, hepatocyte polarization, apical tube formation, cell morphogenesis

Research Description

Research in our laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern cell organization and division. Using diverse experimental systems (yeast, mammalian cell lines, and mouse models), we combine genetics, advanced imaging, and biochemistry to investigate cytokinesis, septin assembly and remodeling, cell polarity, and epithelial tube formation.

Our cytokinesis research focuses on defining the architecture, dynamics, and regulation of the actomyosin ring (AMR), as well as how its function is coordinated with targeted vesicle fusion and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling at the division site. Our septin studies aim to uncover the principles governing septin higher-order assembly and remodeling during the cell cycle and how these processes contribute to successful cell division.

Another major area of research investigates how cytokinesis is coordinated with hepatocyte polarization and bile canaliculus (BC) formation and elongation—interconnected processes essential for liver architecture and function.

We are also developing the basidiomycetous yeast Kockovaella fuzhouensis as a new model system to explore fundamental and previously inaccessible questions in cell morphogenesis and division.

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

Current members of the lab

Xi Chen, Research Specialist D and Lab Manager
Kangji Wang, Senior Investigator
Hiroki Okada, Senior Investigator
Junya Hayase, Postdoc
Emily Shapland, Rotation student
Amy Lee, Undergraduate student

Selected Publications

Hayase J, Yang L, Zhou YH, Wang K, Xu CR, Bi E.: E- and N-cadherin drive hepatic polarity and lumen elongation via opposing effects on RhoA activity. J Cell Biol 225: e202509170, Aug 2026.

Yang L, Zhou YH, Hayase J, Wang L, Zhang W, Bi E, Xu CR.: PAR3-mediated coordination of hepatocyte proliferation, maturation, and architecture in liver development and regeneration. Nat Commun Jun 2026.

Okada H, Feng L, Chen X, Bi E.: Draft genome sequence of the basidiomycetous yeast Kockovaella fuzhouensis CBS 8243. Microbiol Resour Announc Jun 2026.

Wang K, Shu S, Liu X, Bi E.: Role of the nonhelical tailpiece of myosin-II in regulating filament architecture and function. J Cell Biol 225: e202501234, Aug 2026.

Okada H, Chen X, Marquardt J, Wang K, Bi E.: Bni5 regulates and coordinates septin architecture and myosin-II functions at the cell division site. J Cell Biol 224: e202311040, Dec 2025.

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.

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.

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.