bims-mecosi Biomed News
on Membrane contact sites
Issue of 2021–06–13
seven papers selected by
Verena Kohler, Stockholm University
  1. Nanoscale architecture of a VAP-A-OSBP tethering complex at membrane contact sites.
  2. Phospholipid transfer function of PTPIP51 at mitochondria-associated ER membranes.
  3. The role of Mfn2 in the structure and function of ER-mitochondrial tethering in vivo.
  4. Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Contact Sites-Emerging Intracellular Signaling Hubs.
  5. Split Green Fluorescent Protein-Based Contact Site Sensor (SPLICS ) for Heterotypic Organelle Juxtaposition as Applied to ER -Mitochondria Proximities.
  6. Lipid Droplet Contacts With Autophagosomes, Lysosomes, and Other Degradative Vesicles.
  7. Apoptotic signals at the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria interface.
  1. Nat Commun. 2021 06 08. 12(1): 3459
    Nanoscale architecture of a VAP-A-OSBP tethering complex at membrane contact sites.
    Eugenio de la Mora, Manuela Dezi, Aurélie Di Cicco, Joëlle Bigay, Romain Gautier, John Manzi, Joël Polidori, Daniel Castaño-Díez, Bruno Mesmin, Bruno Antonny, Daniel Lévy.
      Membrane contact sites (MCS) are subcellular regions where two organelles appose their membranes to exchange small molecules, including lipids. Structural information on how proteins form MCS is scarce. We designed an in vitro MCS with two membranes and a pair of tethering proteins suitable for cryo-tomography analysis. It includes VAP-A, an ER transmembrane protein interacting with a myriad of cytosolic proteins, and oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP), a lipid transfer protein that transports cholesterol from the ER to the trans Golgi network. We show that VAP-A is a highly flexible protein, allowing formation of MCS of variable intermembrane distance. The tethering part of OSBP contains a central, dimeric, and helical T-shape region. We propose that the molecular flexibility of VAP-A enables the recruitment of partners of different sizes within MCS of adjustable thickness, whereas the T geometry of the OSBP dimer facilitates the movement of the two lipid-transfer domains between membranes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23799-1
  2. EMBO Rep. 2021 Jun 04. 22(6): e51323
    Phospholipid transfer function of PTPIP51 at mitochondria-associated ER membranes.
    Hyun Ku Yeo, Tae Hyun Park, Hee Yeon Kim, Hyonchol Jang, Jueun Lee, Geum-Sook Hwang, Seong Eon Ryu, Si Hoon Park, Hyun Kyu Song, Hyun Seung Ban, Hye-Jin Yoon, Byung Il Lee.
      In eukaryotic cells, mitochondria are closely tethered to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at sites called mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs). Ca2+ ion and phospholipid transfer occurs at MAMs to support diverse cellular functions. Unlike those in yeast, the protein complexes involved in phospholipid transfer at MAMs in humans have not been identified. Here, we determine the crystal structure of the tetratricopeptide repeat domain of PTPIP51 (PTPIP51_TPR), a mitochondrial protein that interacts with the ER-anchored VAPB protein at MAMs. The structure of PTPIP51_TPR shows an archetypal TPR fold, and an electron density map corresponding to an unidentified lipid-like molecule probably derived from the protein expression host is found in the structure. We reveal functions of PTPIP51 in phospholipid binding/transfer, particularly of phosphatidic acid, in vitro. Depletion of PTPIP51 in cells reduces the mitochondrial cardiolipin level. Additionally, we confirm that the PTPIP51-VAPB interaction is mediated by the FFAT-like motif of PTPIP51 and the MSP domain of VAPB. Our findings suggest that PTPIP51 is a phospholipid transfer protein with a MAM-tethering function.
    Keywords:  MAM; PTPIP51; endoplasmic reticulum; mitochondria; phospholipid
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202051323
  3. J Cell Sci. 2021 Jun 10. pii: jcs.253443. [Epub ahead of print]
    The role of Mfn2 in the structure and function of ER-mitochondrial tethering in vivo.
    Song Han, Fanpeng Zhao, Jeffrey Hsia, Xiaopin Ma, Yi Liu, Sandy Torres, Hisashi Fujioka, Xiongwei Zhu.
      The mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs) plays an essential role in multiple cell physiological process. While Mfn2 was the first protein implicated in the formation of MERCs, it is debated whether it acts as a tether or antagonizer, largely based on in vitro studies. To understand the role of Mfn2 in MERCs in vivo, we characterized ultrastructural and biochemical changes of MERCs in pyramidal neurons of hippocampus in Mfn2 conditional knockout (KO) mice and in Mfn2 overexpression (OE) mice and found Mfn2 ablation caused reduced close contacts while Mfn2 OE caused increased close contacts between ER and mitochondria in vivo. Functional studies on SH-SY5Y cells with Mfn2 KO or overexpression demonstrating similar biochemical changes found that mitochondrial calcium uptake along with IP3R3-Grp75 interaction was decreased in Mfn2 KO cells but increased in the Mfn2 OE cells. Lastly, we found Mfn2 KO decreased and Mfn2 OE increased the interaction between the ER-mitochondria tethering pair of VAPB-PTPIP51. In conclusion, our study supports the notion that Mfn2 plays a critical role in ER-mitochondrial tethering and the formation of close contacts in neuronal cells in vivo.
    Keywords:  ER-mitochondria tethering; Mfn2; Mitochondria-ER contact; Mitochondria-associated membrane; Mitochondrial calcium uptake; VAPB
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.253443
  4. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 ;9 653828
    Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Contact Sites-Emerging Intracellular Signaling Hubs.
    Saeko Aoyama-Ishiwatari, Yusuke Hirabayashi.
      It has become apparent that our textbook illustration of singular isolated organelles is obsolete. In reality, organelles form complex cooperative networks involving various types of organelles. Light microscopic and ultrastructural studies have revealed that mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites (MERCSs) are abundant in various tissues and cell types. Indeed, MERCSs have been proposed to play critical roles in various biochemical and signaling functions such as Ca2+ homeostasis, lipid transfer, and regulation of organelle dynamics. While numerous proteins involved in these MERCS-dependent functions have been reported, how they coordinate and cooperate with each other has not yet been elucidated. In this review, we summarize the functions of mammalian proteins that localize at MERCSs and regulate their formation. We also discuss potential roles of the MERCS proteins in regulating multiple organelle contacts.
    Keywords:  ER; mammalian protein; mitochondria; organelle contact sites; tether
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.653828
  5. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2275 363-378
    Split Green Fluorescent Protein-Based Contact Site Sensor (SPLICS ) for Heterotypic Organelle Juxtaposition as Applied to ER -Mitochondria Proximities.
    Tito Calì, Marisa Brini.
      In the last decades, membrane contact sites (MCSs) have been the object of intense investigation in different fields of cell physiology and pathology and their importance for the correct functioning of the cell is now widely recognized. MCS between any known intercellular organelles, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, Golgi, endosomes, peroxisomes, lysosomes, lipid droplets, and the plasma membrane (PM), have been largely documented and in some cases the molecules responsible for the tethering also identified. They represent specific membrane hubs where a tightly coordinated exchange of ions, lipids, nutrients, and factors required to maintain proper cellular homeostasis takes place. Their delicate, dynamic, and sometimes elusive nature prevented and/or delayed the development of tools to easily image interorganelle proximity under physiological conditions and in living organisms. Nowadays, this aspect received great momentum due to the finding that MCSs' dysregulation is involved in several pathological conditions. We have recently developed modular, split-GFP-based contact site sensors (SPLICS) engineered to fluoresce when homo- and heterotypic juxtapositions between ER and mitochondria occur over a range of specific distances. Here we describe in detail, by highlighting strengths and weaknesses, the use and the application of these novel genetically encoded SPLICS sensors and how to properly quantify short- and long-range ER-mitochondria interactions.
    Keywords:  ER–Mitochondria tethering; Endoplasmic reticulum; Mitochondria; Organelle contact sites; SPLICS; Split GFP
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1262-0_23
  6. Contact (Thousand Oaks). 2020 Jan 01. 3 1-13
    Lipid Droplet Contacts With Autophagosomes, Lysosomes, and Other Degradative Vesicles.
    Kristina Drizyte-Miller, Micah B Schott, Mark A McNiven.
      Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic fat-storage organelles that interact readily with numerous cellular structures and organelles. A prominent LD contact site is with degradative vesicles such as autophagosomes, lysosomes, autolysosomes, and late endosomes. These contacts support lipid catabolism through the selective autophagy of LDs (i.e., lipophagy) or the recruitment of cytosolic lipases to the LD surface (i.e., lipolysis). However, LD-autophagosome contacts serve additional functions beyond lipid catabolism, including the supply of lipids for autophagosome biogenesis. In this review, we discuss the molecular mediators of LD contacts with autophagosomes and other degradative organelles as well as the diverse cellular functions of these contact sites in health and disease.
    Keywords:  autophagosome; autophagy; cell biology; endosome; lipid droplet; lysosome
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/2515256420910892
  7. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol. 2021 ;pii: S1876-1623(21)00025-0. [Epub ahead of print]126 307-343
    Apoptotic signals at the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria interface.
    Flavia Giamogante, Elena Poggio, Lucia Barazzuol, Alberto Covallero, Tito Calì.
      The maintenance of cellular homeostasis involves the participation of multiple organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. Specifically, ER plays a key role in calcium (Ca2+) storage, lipid synthesis, protein folding, and assembly, while mitochondria are the "energy factories" and provide energy to drive intracellular processes. Hence, alteration in ER or mitochondrial homeostasis has detrimental effects on cell survival, being linked to the triggering of apoptosis, a programmed form of cell death. Besides, ER stress conditions affect mitochondria functionality and vice-versa, as ER and mitochondria communicate via mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) to carry out a number of fundamental cellular functions. It is not surprising, thus, that also MAMs perturbations are involved in the regulation of apoptosis. This chapter intends to accurately discuss the involvement of MAMs in apoptosis, highlighting their crucial role in controlling this delicate cellular process.
    Keywords:  Apoptosis; Bioenergetics; Calcium signaling; ER-mitochondria contact sites; MAMs; Organelle tethering
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apcsb.2021.02.007
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