From dysfunctional endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria coupling to neurodegeneration

• Published in: Neurochemistry international Vol. 109; pp. 171 - 183
• Main Authors: Erpapazoglou, Zoi, Mouton-Liger, François, Corti, Olga
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Animals; Calcium and lipid metabolism; Endoplasmic Reticulum - metabolism; Endoplasmic Reticulum - pathology; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress - physiology; ER-mitochondria contacts; Humans; Inflammation; Life Sciences; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondria - pathology; Mitochondrial Dynamics - physiology; Mitochondrial Membranes - metabolism; Mitochondrial Membranes - pathology; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative Diseases - metabolism; Neurodegenerative Diseases - pathology; Neurons and Cognition; Parkinson's disease; ER-mitochondria contacts; Parkinson's disease; Neurodegeneration; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Inflammation; Calcium and lipid metabolism; Alzheimer's disease
• ISSN: 0197-0186; 1872-9754; 0197-0186
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2017.03.021

Over the last years, contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria have attracted great attention in the study of cell homeostasis and dysfunction, especially in the context of neurodegenerative disorders. This is largely due to the critical involvement of this subcellular compartment in a plethora of vital cellular functions: Ca2+ homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics, transport, bioenergetics and turnover, ER stress, apoptotic signaling and inflammation. An increasing number of disease-associated proteins have been reported to physically associate with the ER-mitochondria interface, and cause structural and/or functional perturbations of this compartment. In the present review, we summarize current knowledge about the architecture and functions of the ER-mitochondria contact sites, and the consequences of their alteration in different neurodegenerative disorders. Special emphasis is placed on the caveats and difficulties in defining the nature and origin of the highlighted defects in ER-mitochondria communication, and their exact contribution to the neurodegenerative process. •The ER-mitochondria interface is a multitasking subcellular platform regulating metabolism, membrane dynamics and signaling.•Structural and functional defects of the ER-mitochondria interface are observed in neurodegenerative diseases.•Defects in ER-mitochondria communication may reflect primary mechanisms, side-effects or compensatory responses.•Combination of models and methodologies will help bypass current limitations in the study of ER-mitochondria contact sites.