scholarly journals Lipid synthesis and membrane contact sites: a crossroads for cellular physiology

2016 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 1789-1805 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Pedro Fernández-Murray ◽  
Christopher R. McMaster
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Synthesis ◽  
Cellular Physiology ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Membrane Contact

scholarly journals The journey of Ca2+ through the cell – pulsing through the network of ER membrane contact sites

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (24) ◽  
pp. jcs249136
Author(s):  
Tom Cremer ◽  
Jacques Neefjes ◽  
Ilana Berlin
Keyword(s):  
Life Forms ◽  
Excitable Cells ◽  
Cellular Physiology ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Membrane Contact ◽  
Responsive Behavior ◽  
Local Release ◽  
Cellular Ca

ABSTRACTCalcium is the third most abundant metal on earth, and the fundaments of its homeostasis date back to pre-eukaryotic life forms. In higher organisms, Ca2+ serves as a cofactor for a wide array of (enzymatic) interactions in diverse cellular contexts and constitutes the most important signaling entity in excitable cells. To enable responsive behavior, cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations are kept low through sequestration into organellar stores, particularly the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but also mitochondria and lysosomes. Specific triggers are then used to instigate a local release of Ca2+ on demand. Here, communication between organelles comes into play, which is accomplished through intimate yet dynamic contacts, termed membrane contact sites (MCSs). The field of MCS biology in relation to cellular Ca2+ homeostasis has exploded in recent years. Taking advantage of this new wealth of knowledge, in this Review, we invite the reader on a journey of Ca2+ flux through the ER and its associated MCSs. New mechanistic insights and technological advances inform the narrative on Ca2+ acquisition and mobilization at these sites of communication between organelles, and guide the discussion of their consequences for cellular physiology.

scholarly journals Closing the Gap: Membrane Contact Sites in the Regulation of Autophagy

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1184
Author(s):  
Verena Kohler ◽  
Andreas Aufschnaiter ◽  
Sabrina Büttner
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Functional Integration ◽  
Lipid Synthesis ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Biochemical Processes ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Membrane Contact ◽  
Related Proteins

In all eukaryotic cells, intracellular organization and spatial separation of incompatible biochemical processes is established by individual cellular subcompartments in form of membrane-bound organelles. Virtually all of these organelles are physically connected via membrane contact sites (MCS), allowing interorganellar communication and a functional integration of cellular processes. These MCS coordinate the exchange of diverse metabolites and serve as hubs for lipid synthesis and trafficking. While this of course indirectly impacts on a plethora of biological functions, including autophagy, accumulating evidence shows that MCS can also directly regulate autophagic processes. Here, we focus on the nexus between interorganellar contacts and autophagy in yeast and mammalian cells, highlighting similarities and differences. We discuss MCS connecting the ER to mitochondria or the plasma membrane, crucial for early steps of both selective and non-selective autophagy, the yeast-specific nuclear–vacuolar tethering system and its role in microautophagy, the emerging function of distinct autophagy-related proteins in organellar tethering as well as novel MCS transiently emanating from the growing phagophore and mature autophagosome.

scholarly journals Caenorhabditis elegans Junctophilin has tissue-specific functions and regulates neurotransmission with extended-synaptotagmin

Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A Piggott ◽  
Zilu Wu ◽  
Stephen Nurrish ◽  
Suhong Xu ◽  
Joshua M Kaplan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Tissue Specific ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Pharyngeal Muscles ◽  
Membrane Contact ◽  
Null Mutants

Abstract The junctophilin family of proteins tether together plasma membrane (PM) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes, and couple PM- and ER-localized calcium channels. Understanding in vivo functions of junctophilins is of great interest for dissecting the physiological roles of ER-PM contact sites. Here, we show that the sole C. elegans junctophilin JPH-1 localizes to discrete membrane contact sites in neurons and muscles and has important tissue-specific functions. jph-1 null mutants display slow growth and development due to weaker contraction of pharyngeal muscles, leading to reduced feeding. In the body wall muscle, JPH-1 co-localizes with the PM-localized EGL-19 voltage-gated calcium channel and ER-localized UNC-68/RyR calcium channel, and is required for animal movement. In neurons, JPH-1 co-localizes with the membrane contact site protein Extended-SYnaptoTagmin 2 (ESYT-2) in soma, and is present near presynaptic release sites. Interestingly, jph-1 and esyt-2 null mutants display mutual suppression in their response to aldicarb, suggesting that JPH-1 and ESYT-2 have antagonistic roles in neuromuscular synaptic transmission. Additionally, we find an unexpected cell non-autonomous effect of jph-1 in axon regrowth after injury. Genetic double mutant analysis suggests that jph-1 functions in overlapping pathways with two PM-localized voltage-gated calcium channels, egl-19 and unc-2, and unc-68/RyR for animal health and development. Finally, we show that jph-1 regulates the colocalization of EGL-19 and UNC-68 and that unc-68/RyR is required for JPH-1 localization to ER-PM puncta. Our data demonstrate important roles for junctophilin in cellular physiology, and also provide insights into how junctophilin functions together with other calcium channels in vivo.

scholarly journals Remodelling of Nucleus-Vacuole Junctions During Metabolic and Proteostatic Stress

Contact ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 251525642110166
Author(s):  
Verena Kohler ◽  
Sabrina Büttner
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Internal Stress ◽  
Molecular Architecture ◽  
Adaptation To Stress ◽  
Semipermeable Membranes ◽  
Cellular Adaptation ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Intracellular Compartments ◽  
Membrane Contact

Cellular adaptation to stress and metabolic cues requires a coordinated response of different intracellular compartments, separated by semipermeable membranes. One way to facilitate interorganellar communication is via membrane contact sites, physical bridges between opposing organellar membranes formed by an array of tethering machineries. These contact sites are highly dynamic and establish an interconnected organellar network able to quickly respond to external and internal stress by changing size, abundance and molecular architecture. Here, we discuss recent work on nucleus-vacuole junctions, connecting yeast vacuoles with the nucleus. Appearing as small, single foci in mitotic cells, these contacts expand into one enlarged patch upon nutrient exhaustion and entry into quiescence or can be shaped into multiple large foci essential to sustain viability upon proteostatic stress at the nuclear envelope. We highlight the remarkable plasticity and rapid remodelling of these contact sites upon metabolic or proteostatic stress and their emerging importance for cellular fitness.

scholarly journals Synaptotagmins at the endoplasmic reticulum–plasma membrane contact sites maintain diacylglycerol homeostasis during abiotic stress

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noemi Ruiz-Lopez ◽  
Jessica Pérez-Sancho ◽  
Alicia Esteban del Valle ◽  
Richard P Haslam ◽  
Steffen Vanneste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Membrane Contact ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Abstract Endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact sites (ER-PM CS) play fundamental roles in all eukaryotic cells. Arabidopsis thaliana mutants lacking the ER-PM protein tether synaptotagmin1 (SYT1) exhibit decreased plasma membrane (PM) integrity under multiple abiotic stresses such as freezing, high salt, osmotic stress and mechanical damage. Here, we show that, together with SYT1, the stress-induced SYT3 is an ER-PM tether that also functions in maintaining PM integrity. The ER-PM CS localization of SYT1 and SYT3 is dependent on PM phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate and is regulated by abiotic stress. Lipidomic analysis revealed that cold stress increased the accumulation of diacylglycerol at the PM in a syt1/3 double mutant relative to wild type while the levels of most glycerolipid species remain unchanged. Additionally, the SYT1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion preferentially binds diacylglycerol in vivo with little affinity for polar glycerolipids. Our work uncovers a SYT-dependent mechanism of stress adaptation counteracting the detrimental accumulation of diacylglycerol at the PM produced during episodes of abiotic stress.

Regulation and physiology of membrane contact sites

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 148-157
Author(s):  
Rossella Venditti ◽  
Cathal Wilson ◽  
Maria Antonietta De Matteis
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Membrane Contact
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