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Significance The intricate membranous network inside cells, with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at its center, allows coordinated cellular function by transmitting information across membrane contact sites (MCSs) that form between… Click to show full abstract
Significance The intricate membranous network inside cells, with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at its center, allows coordinated cellular function by transmitting information across membrane contact sites (MCSs) that form between diverse kinds of cellular organelles and the ER. Unfortunately, these submicroscopic MCSs remain poorly understood and difficult to visualize and manipulate inside cells. We developed an in vitro assay to form MCSs between lipid droplets and an ER-mimicking microsomal membrane purified from rat liver. An optical trap is used to demonstrate physical tethering at the MCS, which changes dramatically in response to metabolic state and immune activation under control of Rab18 GTPase and phosphatidic acid. This assay can potentially be adapted to understand abnormal MCS formation in various disorders.
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year Published: 2022
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