Membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotic cells form an interactive network to coordinate and
facilitate cellular functions. The formation of close contacts, termed “membrane contact sites”
(MCSs), represents an intriguing strategy for organelle interaction and coordinated interplay.
Emerging research is rapidly revealing new details ...
Membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotic cells form an interactive network to coordinate and
facilitate cellular functions. The formation of close contacts, termed “membrane contact sites”
(MCSs), represents an intriguing strategy for organelle interaction and coordinated interplay.
Emerging research is rapidly revealing new details of MCSs. They represent ubiquitous and
diverse structures, which are important for many aspects of cell physiology and homeostasis. Here,
we provide a comprehensive overview of the physiological relevance of organelle contacts. We
focus on mitochondria, peroxisomes, the Golgi complex and the plasma membrane, and discuss
the most recent findings on their interactions with other subcellular organelles and their multiple
functions, including membrane contacts with the ER, lipid droplets and the endosomal/lysosomal
compartment.
