Stitching Organelles: Organization and Function of Specialized Membrane Contact Sites in Plants

• Published in: Trends in cell biology Vol. 26; no. 9; pp. 705 - 717
• Main Authors: Pérez-Sancho, Jessica, Tilsner, Jens, Samuels, A. Lacey, Botella, Miguel A., Bayer, Emmanuelle M., Rosado, Abel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Biological Evolution; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Eukaryotic Cells - metabolism; Lipids - chemistry; Organelles - metabolism; Pathology; PLAMs; Plants - metabolism; plasmodesmata; stress-inducible MCS; SYT; tethers; VAP27; VAP27; PLAMs; plasmodesmata; stress-inducible MCS; tethers; SYT
• ISSN: 0962-8924; 1879-3088; 1879-3088
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2016.05.007

The coordination of multiple metabolic activities in plants relies on an interorganelle communication network established through membrane contact sites (MCS). The MCS are maintained in transient or durable configurations by tethering structures which keep the two membranes in close proximity, and create chemical microdomains that allow localized and targeted exchange of small molecules and possibly proteins. The past few years have witnessed a dramatic increase in our understanding of the structural and molecular organization of plant interorganelle MCS, and their crucial roles in plant specialized functions including stress responses, cell to cell communication, and lipid transport. In this review we summarize recent advances in understanding the molecular components, structural organization, and functions of different plant-specific MCS architectures. Interorganelle communication in plants relies on MCS, specialized membrane junctions that facilitate molecular exchanges between apposed bilayers. The transfer of molecules between plant organelles uses both evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic MCS and also plant-specific MCS with unique architecture and specialized functions. MCS establishment and function is precisely regulated by protein-tethering complexes. These components have been extensively studied in yeast and mammals, but until recently no MCS tethers have been identified and functionally characterized in plants. The functional characterization of plant-specific MCS highlights their essential roles in processes not described for other eukaryotic organisms, including tissue development, intercellular trafficking, and stress responses.