Tricalbins Contribute to Cellular Lipid Flux and Form Curved ER-PM Contacts that Are Bridged by Rod-Shaped Structures

Mitochondria-ER-PM contacts regulate mitochondrial division and PI(4)P distribution

The mitochondria-ER-cortex anchor (MECA) forms a tripartite membrane contact site between mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and the plasma membrane (PM). The core component of MECA, Num1, interacts with the PM and mitochondria via two distinct lipid-binding domains; however, the molecular mechanism by which Num1 interacts with the ER is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Num1 contains a FFAT motif in its C-terminus that interacts with the integral ER membrane protein Scs2. While dispensable for Num1's functions in mitochondrial tethering and dynein anchoring, the FFAT motif is required for Num1's role in promoting mitochondrial division. Unexpectedly, we also reveal a novel function of MECA in regulating the distribution of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI(4)P). Breaking Num1 association with any of the three membranes it tethers results in an accumulation of PI(4)P on the PM, likely via disrupting Sac1-mediated PI(4)P turnover. This work establishes MECA as an important regulatory hub that spatially organizes mitochondria, ER, and PM to coordinate crucial cellular functions.

Partitioning into ER membrane microdomains impacts autophagic protein turnover during cellular aging

Eukaryotic membranes are compartmentalized into distinct micro- and nanodomains that rearrange dynamically in response to external and internal cues. This lateral heterogeneity of the lipid bilayer and associated clustering of distinct membrane proteins contribute to the spatial organization of numerous cellular processes. Here, we show that membrane microdomains within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of yeast cells are reorganized during metabolic reprogramming and aging. Using biosensors with varying transmembrane domain length to map lipid bilayer thickness, we demonstrate that in young cells, microdomains of increased thickness mainly exist within the nuclear ER, while progressing cellular age drives the formation of numerous microdomains specifically in the cortical ER. Partitioning of biosensors with long transmembrane domains into these microdomains increased protein stability and prevented autophagic removal. In contrast, reporters with short transmembrane domains progressively accumulated at the membrane contact site between the nuclear ER and the vacuole, the so-called nucleus-vacuole junction (NVJ), and were subjected to turnover via selective microautophagy occurring specifically at these sites. Reporters with long transmembrane domains were excluded from the NVJ. Our data reveal age-dependent rearrangement of the lateral organization of the ER and establish transmembrane domain length as a determinant of membrane contact site localization and autophagic degradation.

In situ studies of membrane biology by cryo-electron tomography

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) allows high resolution 3D imaging of biological samples in near-native environments. Thus, cryo-ET has become the method of choice to analyze the unperturbed organization of cellular membranes. Here, we briefly discuss current cryo-ET workflows and their application to study membrane biology in situ, under basal and pathological conditions.

Bridging structural and cell biology with cryo-electron microscopy

Most life scientists would agree that understanding how cellular processes work requires structural knowledge about the macromolecules involved. For example, deciphering the double-helical nature of DNA revealed essential aspects of how genetic information is stored, copied and repaired. Yet, being reductionist in nature, structural biology requires the purification of large amounts of macromolecules, often trimmed off larger functional units. The advent of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) greatly facilitated the study of large, functional complexes and generally of samples that are hard to express, purify and/or crystallize. Nevertheless, cryo-EM still requires purification and thus visualization outside of the natural context in which macromolecules operate and coexist. Conversely, cell biologists have been imaging cells using a number of fast-evolving techniques that keep expanding their spatial and temporal reach, but always far from the resolution at which chemistry can be understood. Thus, structural and cell biology provide complementary, yet unconnected visions of the inner workings of cells. Here we discuss how the interplay between cryo-EM and cryo-electron tomography, as a connecting bridge to visualize macromolecules in situ, holds great promise to create comprehensive structural depictions of macromolecules as they interact in complex mixtures or, ultimately, inside the cell itself.

Stay in touch with the endoplasmic reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is composed of a continuous network of tubules and sheets, forms the most widely distributed membrane system in eukaryotic cells. As a result, it engages a variety of organelles by establishing membrane contact sites (MCSs). These contacts regulate organelle positioning and remodeling, including fusion and fission, facilitate precise lipid exchange, and couple vital signaling events. Here, we systematically review recent advances and converging themes on ER-involved organellar contact. The molecular basis, cellular influence, and potential physiological functions for ER/nuclear envelope contacts with mitochondria, Golgi, endosomes, lysosomes, lipid droplets, autophagosomes, and plasma membrane are summarized.

Cool-contacts: Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Membrane Contact Sites and Their Components

Electron microscopy has played a pivotal role in elucidating the ultrastructure of membrane contact sites between cellular organelles. The advent of cryo-electron microscopy has ushered in the ability to determine atomic models of constituent proteins or protein complexes within sites of membrane contact through single particle analysis. Furthermore, it enables the visualization of the three-dimensional architecture of membrane contact sites, encompassing numerous copies of proteins, whether in vitro reconstituted or directly observed in situ using cryo-electron tomography. Nevertheless, there exists a scarcity of cryo-electron microscopy studies focused on the site of membrane contact and their constitutive proteins. This review provides an overview of the contributions made by cryo-electron microscopy to our understanding of membrane contact sites, outlines the associated limitations, and explores prospects in this field.

Peroxisome population control by phosphoinositide signaling at the endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane interface

Phosphoinositides are lipid signaling molecules acting at the interface of membranes and the cytosol to regulate membrane trafficking, lipid transport and responses to extracellular stimuli. Peroxisomes are multicopy organelles that are highly responsive to changes in metabolic and environmental conditions. In yeast, peroxisomes are tethered to the cell cortex at defined focal structures containing the peroxisome inheritance protein, Inp1p. We investigated the potential impact of changes in cortical phosphoinositide levels on the peroxisome compartment of the yeast cell. Here we show that the phosphoinositide, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P), found at the junction of the cortical endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane (cER-PM) acts to regulate the cell's peroxisome population. In cells lacking a cER-PM tether or the enzymatic activity of the lipid phosphatase Sac1p, cortical PI4P is elevated, peroxisome numbers and motility are increased, and peroxisomes are no longer firmly tethered to Inp1p-containing foci. Reattachment of the cER to the PM through an artificial ER-PM "staple" in cells lacking the cER-PM tether does not restore peroxisome populations to the wild-type condition, demonstrating that integrity of PI4P signaling at the cell cortex is required for peroxisome homeostasis.

Increased Phospholipid Flux Bypasses Overlapping Essential Requirements for the Yeast Sac1p Phosphoinositide Phosphatase and ER-PM Membrane Contact Sites

In budding yeast cells, much of the inner surface of the plasma membrane (PM) is covered with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This association is mediated by seven ER membrane proteins that confer cortical ER-PM association at membrane contact sites (MCSs). Several of these membrane "tether" proteins are known to physically interact with the phosphoinositide phosphatase Sac1p. However, it is unclear how or if these interactions are necessary for their interdependent functions. We find that SAC1 inactivation in cells lacking the homologous synaptojanin-like genes INP52 and INP53 results in a significant increase in cortical ER-PM MCSs. We show in sac1Δ, sac1tsinp52Δ inp53Δ, or Δ-super-tether (Δ-s-tether) cells lacking all seven ER-PM tethering genes that phospholipid biosynthesis is disrupted and phosphoinositide distribution is altered. Furthermore, SAC1 deletion in Δ-s-tether cells results in lethality, indicating a functional overlap between SAC1 and ER-PM tethering genes. Transcriptomic profiling indicates that SAC1 inactivation in either Δ-s-tether or inp52Δ inp53Δ cells induces an ER membrane stress response and elicits phosphoinositide-dependent changes in expression of autophagy genes. In addition, by isolating high-copy suppressors that rescue sac1Δ Δ-s-tether lethality, we find that key phospholipid biosynthesis genes bypass the overlapping function of SAC1 and ER-PM tethers and that overexpression of the phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate transfer protein Osh6 also provides limited suppression. Combined with lipidomic analysis and determinations of intracellular phospholipid distributions, these results suggest that Sac1p and ER phospholipid flux controls lipid distribution to drive Osh6p-dependent phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate counter-exchange at ER-PM MCSs.

Computational modeling of membrane trafficking processes: From large molecular assemblies to chemical specificity

In the last decade, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become an essential tool to investigate the molecular properties of membrane trafficking processes, often in conjunction with experimental approaches. The combination of MD simulations with recent developments in structural biology, such as cryo-electron microscopy and artificial intelligence-based structure determination, opens new, exciting possibilities for future investigations. However, the full potential of MD simulations to provide a molecular view of the complex and dynamic processes involving membrane trafficking can only be realized if certain limitations are addressed, and especially those concerning the quality of coarse-grain models, which, despite recent successes in describing large-scale systems, still suffer from far-from-ideal chemical accuracy. In this review, we will highlight recent success stories of MD simulations in the investigation of membrane trafficking processes, their implications for future research, and the challenges that lie ahead in this specific research domain.

Piecing together the structural organisation of lipid exchange at membrane contact sites

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) are areas of close proximity between organelles, implicated in transport of small molecules and in organelle biogenesis. Lipid transfer proteins at MCSs facilitate the distribution of lipid species between organelle membranes. Such exchange processes rely on the apposition of two different membranes delimiting distinct compartments and a cytosolic intermembrane space. Maintaining organelle identity while transferring molecules therefore implies control over MCS architecture both on the ultrastructural and molecular levels. Factors including intermembrane distance, density of resident proteins, and contact surface area fine-tune MCS function. Furthermore, the structural arrangement of lipid transfer proteins and associated proteins underpins the molecular mechanisms of lipid fluxes at MCSs. Thus, the architecture of MCSs emerges as an essential aspect of their function.

In situ architecture of the ER-mitochondria encounter structure

The endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria are main hubs of eukaryotic membrane biogenesis that rely on lipid exchange via membrane contact sites^1-3, but the underpinning mechanisms remain poorly understood. In yeast, tethering and lipid transfer between the two organelles is mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES), a four-subunit complex of unresolved stoichiometry and architecture^4-6. Here we determined the molecular organization of ERMES within Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells using integrative structural biology by combining quantitative live imaging, cryo-correlative microscopy, subtomogram averaging and molecular modelling. We found that ERMES assembles into approximately 25 discrete bridge-like complexes distributed irregularly across a contact site. Each bridge consists of three synaptotagmin-like mitochondrial lipid binding protein domains oriented in a zig-zag arrangement. Our molecular model of ERMES reveals a pathway for lipids. These findings resolve the in situ supramolecular architecture of a major inter-organelle lipid transfer machinery and provide a basis for the mechanistic understanding of lipid fluxes in eukaryotic cells.

Bringing Structure to Cell Biology with Cryo-Electron Tomography

Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy have marked only the beginning of the potential of this technique. To bring structure into cell biology, the modality of cryo-electron tomography has fast developed into a bona fide in situ structural biology technique where structures are determined in their native environment, the cell. Nearly every step of the cryo-focused ion beam-assisted electron tomography (cryo-FIB-ET) workflow has been improved upon in the past decade, since the first windows were carved into cells, unveiling macromolecular networks in near-native conditions. By bridging structural and cell biology, cryo-FIB-ET is advancing our understanding of structure-function relationships in their native environment and becoming a tool for discovering new biology.

Insights into membrane association of the SMP domain of extended synaptotagmin

The Synaptotagmin-like Mitochondrial-lipid-binding Protein (SMP) domain is a newly identified lipid transfer module present in proteins that regulate lipid homeostasis at membrane contact sites (MCSs). However, how the SMP domain associates with the membrane to extract and unload lipids is unclear. Here, we performed in vitro DNA brick-assisted lipid transfer assays and in silico molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the molecular basis of the membrane association by the SMP domain of extended synaptotagmin (E-Syt), which tethers the tubular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the plasma membrane (PM). We demonstrate that the SMP domain uses its tip region to recognize the extremely curved subdomain of tubular ER and the acidic-lipid-enriched PM for highly efficient lipid transfer. Supporting these findings, disruption of these mechanisms results in a defect in autophagosome biogenesis contributed by E-Syt. Our results suggest a model that provides a coherent picture of the action of the SMP domain at MCSs.

The architecture of Cidec-mediated interfaces between lipid droplets

Lipid droplets (LDs) are intracellular organelles responsible for storing surplus energy as neutral lipids. Their size and number vary enormously. In white adipocytes, LDs can reach 100 μm in diameter, occupying >90% of the cell. Cidec, which is strictly required for the formation of large LDs, is concentrated at interfaces between adjacent LDs and facilitates directional flux of neutral lipids from the smaller to the larger LD. The mechanism of lipid transfer is unclear, in part because the architecture of interfaces between LDs remains elusive. Here we visualize interfaces between LDs by electron cryo-tomography and analyze the kinetics of lipid transfer by quantitative live fluorescence microscopy. We show that transfer occurs through closely apposed monolayers, is slowed down by increasing the distance between the monolayers, and follows exponential kinetics. Our data corroborate the notion that Cidec facilitates pressure-driven transfer of neutral lipids through two "leaky" monolayers between LDs.

How Membrane Contact Sites Shape the Phagophore

During macroautophagy, phagophores establish multiple membrane contact sites (MCSs) with other organelles that are pivotal for proper phagophore assembly and growth. In S. cerevisiae, phagophore contacts have been observed with the vacuole, the ER, and lipid droplets. In situ imaging studies have greatly advanced our understanding of the structure and function of these sites. Here, we discuss how in situ structural methods like cryo-CLEM can give unprecedented insights into MCSs, and how they help to elucidate the structural arrangements of MCSs within cells. We further summarize the current knowledge of the contact sites in autophagy, focusing on autophagosome biogenesis in the model organism S. cerevisiae.

Evolutionary History of Oxysterol-Binding Proteins Reveals Complex History of Duplication and Loss in Animals and Fungi

Cells maintain the specific lipid composition of distinct organelles by vesicular transport as well as non-vesicular lipid trafficking via lipid transport proteins. Oxysterol-binding proteins (OSBPs) are a family of lipid transport proteins that transfer lipids at various membrane contact sites (MCSs). OSBPs have been extensively investigated in human and yeast cells where 12 have been identified in Homo sapiens and 7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The evolutionary relationship between these well-characterized OSBPs is still unclear. By reconstructing phylogenies of eukaryote OSBPs, we show that the ancestral Saccharomycotina had four OSBPs, the ancestral fungus had five OSBPs, and the ancestral animal had six OSBPs, whereas the shared ancestor of animals and fungi as well as the ancestral eukaryote had only three OSBPs. Our analyses identified three undescribed ancient OSBP orthologues, one fungal OSBP (Osh8) lost in the lineage leading to yeast, one animal OSBP (ORP12) lost in the lineage leading to vertebrates, and one eukaryotic OSBP (OshEu) lost in both the animal and fungal lineages.

Mechanisms of Nonvesicular Ceramide Transport

Ceramides, as key components of cellular membranes, play essential roles in various cellular processes, including apoptosis, cell proliferation, and cell signaling. Ceramides are the precursors of all complex sphingolipids in eukaryotic cells. They are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and are further processed at the Golgi apparatus. Therefore, ceramides have to be transported between these two organelles. In mammalian cells, the ceramide transfer protein forms a contact site between the ER and the trans-Golgi region and transports ceramide utilizing its steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-related lipid transfer domain. In yeast, multiple mechanisms of nonvesicular ceramide transport have been described. This involves the nuclear-vacuolar junction protein Nvj2, the yeast tricalbin proteins, and the lipocalin-like protein Svf1. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of nonvesicular ceramide transport mechanisms and their relevance in cellular physiology. We will highlight the physiological and pathological consequences of perturbations in nonvesicular ceramide transport and discuss future challenges in identifying and analyzing ceramide transfer proteins.

The Tricalbin-Family Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma Membrane Tethering Proteins Attenuate ROS-Involved Caspofungin Sensitivity in Candida albicans

The endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane (ER-PM) contacts are one kind of important membrane contact structures in eukaryotic cells, which mediate material and message exchange between the ER and the PM. However, the specific types and functions of ER-PM tethering proteins are poorly understood in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. In this study, we observed that the two tricalbin-family proteins, i.e., Tcb1 and Tcb3, were colocalized with the ER-PM contacts in C. albicans. Deletion of the tricalbin-encoding genes TCB1 and TCB3 remarkably reduced ER-PM contacts, suggesting that tricalbins are ER-PM tethering proteins of C. albicans. Stress sensitivity assays showed that the TCB-deleted strains, including tcb1Δ/Δ, tcb3Δ/Δ, and tcb1Δ/Δ tcb3Δ/Δ, exhibited hypersensitivity to cell wall stress induced by caspofungin. Further investigation revealed that caspofungin induced drastic reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in the mutants, which was attributed to enhanced oxidation of Ero1 in the ER lumen. Removal of intracellular ROS by the ROS scavenger vitamin C rescued the growth of the mutants under caspofungin treatment, indicating that Ero1 oxidation-related ROS accumulation was involved in caspofungin hypersensitivity of the mutants. Moreover, deletion of the TCB genes decreased secretion of extracellular aspartyl proteinases, reduced transport of the cell wall protein Hwp1 from the cytoplasm to the cell wall, and attenuated virulence of the fungal pathogen. This study sheds a light on the role of ER-PM tethering proteins in maintenance of cell wall integrity and virulence in fungal pathogens. IMPORTANCE The endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contacts are important membrane contact structures in eukaryotic cells, functioning in material and message exchange between the ER and the PM. We observed that the two tricalbin-family endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact proteins are required for tolerance to caspofungin-induced cell wall stress in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The tricalbin mutants exhibited hypersensitivity to cell wall stress induced by caspofungin. Further investigation revealed that Ero1 oxidation-related reactive species oxygen accumulation was involved in caspofungin hypersensitivity of the tricalbin mutants. Moreover, loss of tricalbins reduced secretion of extracellular aspartyl proteinases, decreased transport of the cell wall proteins from the cytoplasm to the cell wall, and attenuated virulence of the fungal pathogen. This study uncovers the role of ER-PM tethering proteins in sustaining protein secretion, maintenance of cell wall integrity and virulence in fungal pathogens.

Creating and sensing asymmetric lipid distributions throughout the cell

A key feature of eukaryotic cells is the asymmetric distribution of lipids along their secretory pathway. Because of the biological significance of these asymmetries, it is crucial to define the mechanisms which create them. Extensive studies have led to the identification of lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) that work with lipid-synthesizing enzymes to carry lipids between two distinct membranes in a directional manner, and are thus able to create asymmetries in lipid distribution throughout the cell. These networks are often in contact sites where two organelle membranes are in close proximity for reasons we have only recently started to understand. A question is whether these networks transfer lipids en masse within the cells or adjust the lipid composition of organelle membranes. Finally, recent data have confirmed that some networks organized around LTPs do not generate lipid asymmetries between membranes but sense them and rectify the lipid content of the cell.

Identification and demonstration of roGFP2 as an environmental sensor for cryogenic correlative light and electron microscopy

Cryogenic correlative light and electron microscopy (cryo-CLEM) seeks to leverage orthogonal information present in two powerful imaging modalities. While recent advances in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) allow for the visualization and identification of structures within cells at the nanometer scale, information regarding the cellular environment, such as pH, membrane potential, ionic strength, etc., which influences the observed structures remains absent. Fluorescence microscopy can potentially be used to reveal this information when specific labels, known as fluorescent biosensors, are used, but there has been minimal use of such biosensors in cryo-CLEM to date. Here we demonstrate the applicability of one such biosensor, the fluorescent protein roGFP2, for cryo-CLEM experiments. At room temperature, the ratio of roGFP2 emission brightness when excited at 425 nm or 488 nm is known to report on the local redox potential. When samples containing roGFP2 are rapidly cooled to 77 K in a manner compatible with cryo-EM, the ratio of excitation peaks remains a faithful indicator of the redox potential at the time of freezing. Using purified protein in different oxidizing/reducing environments, we generate a calibration curve which can be used to analyze in situ measurements. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we investigate the oxidation/reduction state within vitrified Caulobacter crescentus cells. The polar organizing protein Z (PopZ) localizes to the polar regions of C. crescentus where it is known to form a distinct microdomain. By expressing an inducible roGFP2-PopZ fusion we visualize individual microdomains in the context of their redox environment.

Microdomain Protein Nce102 Is a Local Sensor of Plasma Membrane Sphingolipid Balance

Sphingolipids are essential building blocks of eukaryotic membranes and important signaling molecules that are regulated tightly in response to environmental and physiological inputs. While their biosynthetic pathway has been well-described, the mechanisms that facilitate the perception of sphingolipid levels at the plasma membrane remain to be uncovered. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Nce102 protein has been proposed to function as a sphingolipid sensor as it changes its plasma membrane distribution in response to sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibition. We show that Nce102 redistributes specifically in regions of increased sphingolipid demand, e.g., membranes of nascent buds. Furthermore, we report that the production of Nce102 increases following sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibition and that Nce102 is internalized when excess sphingolipid precursors are supplied. This finding suggests that the total amount of Nce102 in the plasma membrane is a measure of the current need for sphingolipids, whereas its local distribution marks sites of high sphingolipid demand. The physiological role of Nce102 in the regulation of sphingolipid synthesis is demonstrated by mass spectrometry analysis showing reduced levels of hydroxylated complex sphingolipids in response to heat stress in the nce102Δ deletion mutant. We also demonstrate that Nce102 behaves analogously in the widespread human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, suggesting a conserved principle of local sphingolipid control across species. IMPORTANCE Microorganisms are challenged constantly by their rapidly changing environment. To survive, they have developed diverse mechanisms to quickly perceive stressful situations and adapt to them appropriately. The primary site of both stress sensing and adaptation is the plasma membrane. We identified the yeast protein Nce102 as a marker of local sphingolipid levels and fluidity in the plasma membrane. Nce102 is an important structural and functional component of the membrane compartment Can1 (MCC), a plasma membrane microdomain stabilized by a large cytosolic hemitubular protein scaffold, the eisosome. The MCC/eisosomes are widely conserved among fungi and unicellular algae. To determine if Nce102 carries out similar functions in other organisms, we analyzed the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans and found that Nce102 responds to sphingolipid levels also in this organism, which has potential applications for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. The presented study represents a valuable model for how organisms regulate plasma membrane sphingolipids.

In situ architecture of the lipid transport protein VPS13C at ER-lysosome membrane contacts

VPS13 is a eukaryotic lipid transport protein localized at membrane contact sites. Previous studies suggested that it may transfer lipids between adjacent bilayers by a bridge-like mechanism. Direct evidence for this hypothesis from a full-length structure and from electron microscopy (EM) studies in situ is still missing, however. Here, we have capitalized on AlphaFold predictions to complement the structural information already available about VPS13 and to generate a full-length model of human VPS13C, the Parkinson's disease-linked VPS13 paralog localized at contacts between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and endo/lysosomes. Such a model predicts an ∼30-nm rod with a hydrophobic groove that extends throughout its length. We further investigated whether such a structure can be observed in situ at ER-endo/lysosome contacts. To this aim, we combined genetic approaches with cryo-focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) milling and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to examine HeLa cells overexpressing this protein (either full length or with an internal truncation) along with VAP, its anchoring binding partner at the ER. Using these methods, we identified rod-like densities that span the space separating the two adjacent membranes and that match the predicted structures of either full-length VPS13C or its shorter truncated mutant, thus providing in situ evidence for a bridge model of VPS13 in lipid transport.

Arabidopsis synaptotagmin 1 mediates lipid transport in a lipid composition-dependent manner

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) - plasma membrane (PM) contact sites (EPCSs) are structurally conserved in eukaryotes. The Arabidopsis ER-anchored synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1), enriched in EPCSs, plays a critical role in plant abiotic stress tolerance. It has become clear that SYT1 interacts with PM to mediate ER-PM connectivity. However, whether SYT1 performs additional functions at EPCSs remains unknown. Here, we reported that SYT1 efficiently transfers phospholipids between membranes. The lipid transfer activity of SYT1 is highly dependent on PI(4,5)P₂ , a signal lipid accumulated at the PM under abiotic stress. Mechanically, while SYT1 transfers lipids fundamentally through the synaptotagmin-like mitochondrial-lipid-binding protein (SMP) domain, the efficient lipid transport requires the C2A domain-mediated membrane tethering. Interestingly, we observed that Ca²⁺ could stimulate SYT1-mediated lipid transport. In addition to PI(4,5)P₂ , the Ca²⁺ activation requires the phosphatidylserine, another negatively charged lipid on the opposed membrane. Together, our studies identified Arabidopsis SYT1 as a lipid transfer protein at EPCSs and demonstrated it takes conserved as well as divergent mechanisms with other extend-synaptotagmins. The critical role of lipid composition and Ca²⁺ reveals SYT1-mediated lipid transport is highly regulated by signals in response to abiotic stresses.

Tricalbin proteins regulate plasma membrane phospholipid homeostasis

The evolutionarily conserved extended synaptotagmin (E-Syt) proteins are calcium-activated lipid transfer proteins that function at contacts between the ER and plasma membrane (ER-PM contacts). However, roles of the E-Syt family members in PM lipid organisation remain incomplete. Among the E-Syt family, the yeast tricalbin (Tcb) proteins are essential for PM integrity upon heat stress, but it is not known how they contribute to PM maintenance. Using quantitative lipidomics and microscopy, we find that the Tcb proteins regulate phosphatidylserine homeostasis at the PM. Moreover, upon heat-induced membrane stress, Tcb3 co-localises with the PM protein Sfk1 that is implicated in PM phospholipid asymmetry and integrity. The Tcb proteins also control the PM targeting of the known phosphatidylserine effector Pkc1 upon heat-induced stress. Phosphatidylserine has evolutionarily conserved roles in PM organisation, integrity, and repair. We propose that phospholipid regulation is an ancient essential function of E-Syt family members required for PM integrity.

ER-PM membrane contact site regulation by yeast ORPs and membrane stress pathways

In yeast, at least seven proteins (Ice2p, Ist2p, Scs2/22p, Tcb1-Tcb3p) affect cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tethering and contact with the plasma membrane (PM). In Δ-super-tether (Δ-s-tether) cells that lack these tethers, cortical ER-PM association is all but gone. Yeast OSBP homologue (Osh) proteins are also implicated in membrane contact site (MCS) assembly, perhaps as subunits for multicomponent tethers, though their function at MCSs involves intermembrane lipid transfer. Paradoxically, when analyzed by fluorescence and electron microscopy, the elimination of the OSH gene family does not reduce cortical ER-PM association but dramatically increases it. In response to the inactivation of all Osh proteins, the yeast E-Syt (extended-synaptotagmin) homologue Tcb3p is post-transcriptionally upregulated thereby generating additional Tcb3p-dependent ER-PM MCSs for recruiting more cortical ER to the PM. Although the elimination of OSH genes and the deletion of ER-PM tether genes have divergent effects on cortical ER-PM association, both elicit the Environmental Stress Response (ESR). Through comparisons of transcriptomic profiles of cells lacking OSH genes or ER-PM tethers, changes in ESR expression are partially manifested through the induction of the HOG (high-osmolarity glycerol) PM stress pathway or the ER-specific UPR (unfolded protein response) pathway, respectively. Defects in either UPR or HOG pathways also increase ER-PM MCSs, and expression of extra “artificial ER-PM membrane staples” rescues growth of UPR mutants challenged with lethal ER stress. Transcriptome analysis of OSH and Δ-s-tether mutants also revealed dysregulation of inositol-dependent phospholipid gene expression, and the combined lethality of osh4Δ and Δ-s-tether mutations is suppressed by overexpression of the phosphatidic acid biosynthetic gene, DGK1. These findings establish that the Tcb3p tether is induced by ER and PM stresses and ER-PM MCSs augment responses to membrane stresses, which are integrated through the broader ESR pathway.

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) between the two largest cellular membranes, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane (PM), are regulatory interfaces for lipid synthesis and bidirectional transport. The yeast Osh protein family, which represents the seven yeast oxysterol-binding protein related proteins (ORPs), is implicated in MCS regulation and lipid transfer between membranes. Ironically, we find that when all Osh proteins eliminated, ER-PM association is not reduced but significantly increases. We hypothesized this increase is due to compensatory increases in levels of tether proteins that physically link the ER and PM. In fact, in response to inactivating Osh protein expression, amounts of the tether protein Tcb3 increase and more ER-PM MCSs are produced. By testing the genomic transcriptional responses to the elimination of OSH and ER-PM tether genes, we find these mutants disrupt phospholipid regulation and they elicit the Environmental Stress Response (ESR) pathway, which integrates many different responses needed for recovery after cellular stress. OSH and ER-PM tether genes affect specific stress response pathways that impact the PM and ER, respectively. Combining OSH and tether mutations results in cell lethality, but these cells survive by increased expression of a key phospholipid biosynthetic gene. Based on these results, we propose that OSH and ER-PM tether genes affect phospholipid regulation and protect the PM and ER through membrane stress responses integrated through the ESR pathway.

Compressed sensing for electron cryotomography and high-resolution subtomogram averaging of biological specimens

Cryoelectron tomography (cryo-ET) and subtomogram averaging (STA) allow direct visualization and structural studies of biological macromolecules in their native cellular environment, in situ. Often, low signal-to-noise ratios in tomograms, low particle abundance within the cell, and low throughput in typical cryo-ET workflows severely limit the obtainable structural information. To help mitigate these limitations, here we apply a compressed sensing approach using 3D second-order total variation (CS-TV²) to tomographic reconstruction. We show that CS-TV² increases the signal-to-noise ratio in tomograms, enhancing direct visualization of macromolecules, while preserving high-resolution information up to the secondary structure level. We show that, particularly with small datasets, CS-TV² allows improvement of the resolution of STA maps. We further demonstrate that the CS-TV² algorithm is applicable to cellular specimens, leading to increased visibility of molecular detail within tomograms. This work highlights the potential of compressed sensing-based reconstruction algorithms for cryo-ET and in situ structural biology.

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Compressed sensing (CS-TV²) for cryo-ET using 3D second-order total variation

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CS-TV² increases signal contrast while retaining high-resolution information

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Improved subtomogram averaging from CS-TV² reconstructions of small datasets

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Increased contrast and detail in CS-TV² reconstructions of cellular specimens

Quantitative correlative microscopy reveals the ultrastructural distribution of endogenous endosomal proteins

The key endosomal regulators Rab5, EEA1, and APPL1 are frequently applied in fluorescence microscopy to mark early endosomes, whereas Rab7 is used as a marker for late endosomes and lysosomes. However, endogenous levels of these proteins localize poorly in immuno-EM, and systematic studies on their native ultrastructural distributions are lacking. To address this gap, we here present a quantitative, on-section correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) approach. Using the sensitivity of fluorescence microscopy, we label hundreds of organelles that are subsequently visualized by EM and classified by ultrastructure. We show that Rab5 predominantly marks small, endocytic vesicles and early endosomes. EEA1 colocalizes with Rab5 on early endosomes, but unexpectedly also labels Rab5-negative late endosomes, which are positive for PI(3)P but lack Rab7. APPL1 is restricted to small Rab5-positive, tubulo-vesicular profiles. Rab7 primarily labels late endosomes and lysosomes. These data increase our understanding of the structural-functional organization of the endosomal system and introduce quantitative CLEM as a sensitive alternative for immuno-EM.

Programmed cortical ER collapse drives selective ER degradation and inheritance in yeast meiosis

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) carries out essential and conserved cellular functions, which depend on the maintenance of its structure and subcellular distribution. Here, we report developmentally regulated changes in ER morphology and composition during budding yeast meiosis, a conserved differentiation program that gives rise to gametes. A subset of the cortical ER collapses away from the plasma membrane at anaphase II, thus separating into a spatially distinct compartment. This programmed collapse depends on the transcription factor Ndt80, conserved ER membrane structuring proteins Lnp1 and reticulons, and the actin cytoskeleton. A subset of ER is retained at the mother cell plasma membrane and excluded from gamete cells via the action of ER-plasma membrane tethering proteins. ER remodeling is coupled to ER degradation by selective autophagy, which relies on ER collapse and is regulated by timed expression of the autophagy receptor Atg40. Thus, developmentally programmed changes in ER morphology determine the selective degradation or inheritance of ER subdomains by gametes.

Electron cryo-tomography reveals the subcellular architecture of growing axons in human brain organoids

During brain development, axons must extend over great distances in a relatively short amount of time. How the subcellular architecture of the growing axon sustains the requirements for such rapid build-up of cellular constituents has remained elusive. Human axons have been particularly poorly accessible to imaging at high resolution in a near-native context. Here, we present a method that combines cryo-correlative light microscopy and electron tomography with human cerebral organoid technology to visualize growing axon tracts. Our data reveal a wealth of structural details on the arrangement of macromolecules, cytoskeletal components, and organelles in elongating axon shafts. In particular, the intricate shape of the endoplasmic reticulum is consistent with its role in fulfilling the high demand for lipid biosynthesis to support growth. Furthermore, the scarcity of ribosomes within the growing shaft suggests limited translational competence during expansion of this compartment. These findings establish our approach as a powerful resource for investigating the ultrastructure of defined neuronal compartments.

INPP5K and Atlastin-1 maintain the nonuniform distribution of ER-plasma membrane contacts in neurons

In neurons, the ER extends throughout all cellular processes, forming multiple contacts with the plasma membrane (PM) to fine-tune neuronal physiology. However, the mechanisms that regulate the distribution of neuronal ER-PM contacts are not known. Here, we used the Caenorhabditis elegans DA9 motor neuron as our model system and found that neuronal ER-PM contacts are enriched in soma and dendrite and mostly absent in axons. Using forward genetic screen, we identified that the inositol 5-phosphatase, CIL-1 (human INPP5K), and the dynamin-like GTPase, ATLN-1 (human Atlastin-1), help to maintain the non-uniform, somatodendritic enrichment of neuronal ER-PM contacts. Mechanistically, CIL-1 acts upstream of ATLN-1 to maintain the balance between ER tubules and sheets. In mutants of CIL-1 or ATLN-1, ER sheets expand and invade into the axon. This is accompanied by the ectopic formation of axonal ER-PM contacts and defects in axon regeneration following laser-induced axotomy. As INPP5K and Atlastin-1 have been linked to neurological disorders, the unique distribution of neuronal ER-PM contacts maintained by these proteins may support neuronal resilience during the onset and progression of these diseases.

Transport Pathways That Contribute to the Cellular Distribution of Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a negatively charged phospholipid that displays a highly uneven distribution within cellular membranes, essential for establishment of cell polarity and other processes. In this review, we discuss how combined action of PS biosynthesis enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) acting within membrane contact sites (MCS) between the ER and other compartments, and lipid flippases and scramblases that mediate PS flip-flop between membrane leaflets controls the cellular distribution of PS. Enrichment of PS in specific compartments, in particular in the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM), requires input of energy, which can be supplied in the form of ATP or by phosphoinositides. Conversely, coupling between PS synthesis or degradation, PS flip-flop and PS transfer may enable PS transfer by passive flow. Such scenario is best documented by recent work on the formation of autophagosomes. The existence of lateral PS nanodomains, which is well-documented in the case of the PM and postulated for other compartments, can change the steepness or direction of PS gradients between compartments. Improvements in cellular imaging of lipids and membranes, lipidomic analysis of complex cellular samples, reconstitution of cellular lipid transport reactions and high-resolution structural data have greatly increased our understanding of cellular PS homeostasis. Our review also highlights how budding yeast has been instrumental for our understanding of the organization and transport of PS in cells.

Mechanisms of nonvesicular lipid transport

We have long known that lipids traffic between cellular membranes via vesicles but have only recently appreciated the role of nonvesicular lipid transport. Nonvesicular transport can be high volume, supporting biogenesis of rapidly expanding membranes, or more targeted and precise, allowing cells to rapidly alter levels of specific lipids in membranes. Most such transport probably occurs at membrane contact sites, where organelles are closely apposed, and requires lipid transport proteins (LTPs), which solubilize lipids to shield them from the aqueous phase during their transport between membranes. Some LTPs are cup like and shuttle lipid monomers between membranes. Others form conduits allowing lipid flow between membranes. This review describes what we know about nonvesicular lipid transfer mechanisms while also identifying many remaining unknowns: How do LTPs facilitate lipid movement from and into membranes, do LTPs require accessory proteins for efficient transfer in vivo, and how is directionality of transport determined?

Analysis of the Putative Nucleoporin POM33 in the Filamentous Fungus Sordaria macrospora

In the filamentous fungus Sordaria macrospora (Sm), the STRIPAK complex is required for vegetative growth, fruiting-body development and hyphal fusion. The SmSTRIPAK core consists of the striatin homolog PRO11, the scaffolding subunit of phosphatase PP2A, SmPP2AA, and its catalytic subunit SmPP2Ac1. Among other STRIPAK proteins, the recently identified coiled-coil protein SCI1 was demonstrated to co-localize around the nucleus. Pulldown experiments with SCI identified the transmembrane nucleoporin (TM Nup) SmPOM33 as a potential nuclear-anchor of SmSTRIPAK. Localization studies revealed that SmPOM33 partially localizes to the nuclear envelope (NE), but mainly to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We succeeded to generate a Δpom33 deletion mutant by homologous recombination in a new S. macrospora Δku80 recipient strain, which is defective in non-homologous end joining. Deletion of Smpom33 did neither impair vegetative growth nor sexual development. In pulldown experiments of SmPOM33 followed by LC/MS analysis, ER-membrane proteins involved in ER morphology, protein translocation, glycosylation, sterol biosynthesis and Ca²⁺-transport were significantly enriched. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD026253. Although no SmSTRIPAK components were identified as putative interaction partners, it cannot be excluded that SmPOM33 is involved in temporarily anchoring the SmSTRIPAK to the NE or other sites in the cell.

Synaptotagmins at the endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact sites maintain diacylglycerol homeostasis during abiotic stress

Endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact sites (ER-PM CS) play fundamental roles in all eukaryotic cells. Arabidopsis thaliana mutants lacking the ER-PM protein tether synaptotagmin1 (SYT1) exhibit decreased PM integrity under multiple abiotic stresses, such as freezing, high salt, osmotic stress, and mechanical damage. Here, we show that, together with SYT1, the stress-induced SYT3 is an ER-PM tether that also functions in maintaining PM integrity. The ER-PM CS localization of SYT1 and SYT3 is dependent on PM phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate and is regulated by abiotic stress. Lipidomic analysis revealed that cold stress increased the accumulation of diacylglycerol at the PM in a syt1/3 double mutant relative to wild-type while the levels of most glycerolipid species remain unchanged. In addition, the SYT1-green fluorescent protein fusion preferentially binds diacylglycerol in vivo with little affinity for polar glycerolipids. Our work uncovers a SYT-dependent mechanism of stress adaptation counteracting the detrimental accumulation of diacylglycerol at the PM produced during episodes of abiotic stress.

Architecture of cell-cell junctions in situ reveals a mechanism for bacterial biofilm inhibition

Many bacteria, including the major human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are naturally found in multicellular, antibiotic-tolerant biofilm communities, in which cells are embedded in an extracellular matrix of polymeric molecules. Cell-cell interactions within P. aeruginosa biofilms are mediated by CdrA, a large, membrane-associated adhesin present in the extracellular matrix of biofilms, regulated by the cytoplasmic concentration of cyclic diguanylate. Here, using electron cryotomography of focused ion beam-milled specimens, we report the architecture of CdrA molecules in the extracellular matrix of P. aeruginosa biofilms at intact cell-cell junctions. Combining our in situ observations at cell-cell junctions with biochemistry, native mass spectrometry, and cellular imaging, we demonstrate that CdrA forms an extended structure that projects from the outer membrane to tether cells together via polysaccharide binding partners. We go on to show the functional importance of CdrA using custom single-domain antibody (nanobody) binders. Nanobodies targeting the tip of functional cell-surface CdrA molecules could be used to inhibit bacterial biofilm formation or disrupt preexisting biofilms in conjunction with bactericidal antibiotics. These results reveal a functional mechanism for cell-cell interactions within bacterial biofilms and highlight the promise of using inhibitors targeting biofilm cell-cell junctions to prevent or treat problematic, chronic bacterial infections.

Intrinsically disordered protein regions at membrane contact sites

Membrane contact sites (MCS) are regions of close apposition between membrane-bound organelles. Proteins that occupy MCS display various domain organisation. Among them, lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) frequently contain both structured domains as well as regions of intrinsic disorder. In this review, we discuss the various roles of intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs) in LTPs as well as in other proteins that are associated with organelle contact sites. We distinguish the following functions: (i) to act as flexible tethers between two membranes; (ii) to act as entropic barriers to prevent protein crowding and regulate membrane tethering geometry; (iii) to define the action range of catalytic domains. These functions are added to other functions of IDPRs in membrane environments, such as mediating protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions. We suggest that the overall efficiency and fidelity of contact sites might require fine coordination between all these IDPR activities.

Nanoscale architecture of a VAP-A-OSBP tethering complex at membrane contact sites

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.

Calcium-dependent and -independent lipid transfer mediated by tricalbins in yeast

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) formed between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane (PM) provide a platform for nonvesicular lipid exchange. The ER-anchored tricalbins (Tcb1, Tcb2, and Tcb3) are critical tethering factors at ER–PM MCSs in yeast. Tricalbins possess a synaptotagmin-like mitochondrial-lipid-binding protein (SMP) domain and multiple Ca²⁺-binding C2 domains. Although tricalbins have been suggested to be involved in lipid exchange at the ER–PM MCSs, it remains unclear whether they directly mediate lipid transport. Here, using in vitro lipid transfer assays, we discovered that tricalbins are capable of transferring phospholipids between membranes. Unexpectedly, while its lipid transfer activity was markedly elevated by Ca²⁺, Tcb3 constitutively transferred lipids even in the absence of Ca²⁺. The stimulatory activity of Ca²⁺ on Tcb3 required intact Ca²⁺-binding sites on both the C2C and C2D domains of Tcb3, while Ca²⁺-independent lipid transport was mediated by the SMP domain that transferred lipids via direct interactions with phosphatidylserine and other negatively charged lipid molecules. These findings establish tricalbins as lipid transfer proteins, and reveal Ca²⁺-dependent and -independent lipid transfer activities mediated by these tricalbins, providing new insights into their mechanism in maintaining PM integrity at ER–PM MCSs.

Regulation and physiology of membrane contact sites

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) in addition to impacting the functions of membrane-limited organelles also have a role in the spatial and functional organization of cells, tissues and whole organisms. MCSs have been identified between all organelles and the identification of their molecular composition has progressed significantly in recent years. Equally important is how MCSs respond dynamically to physiological stimuli, how this is regulated, and the physiological roles of MCSs in tissues and at the organismal level, an area that still remains relatively unexplored. In the present review, we focus on the regulation of MCSs, considerations of their function at the organismal level, and how mutations of MCS components linked to genetic diseases might inform us about their physiological relevance.

Geometry and cellular function of organelle membrane interfaces

A vast majority of cellular processes take root at the surface of biological membranes. By providing a two-dimensional platform with limited diffusion, membranes are, by nature, perfect devices to concentrate signaling and metabolic components. As such, membranes often act as "key processors" of cellular information. Biological membranes are highly dynamic and deformable and can be shaped into curved, tubular, or flat conformations, resulting in differentiated biophysical properties. At membrane contact sites, membranes from adjacent organelles come together into a unique 3D configuration, forming functionally distinct microdomains, which facilitate spatially regulated functions, such as organelle communication. Here, we describe the diversity of geometries of contact site-forming membranes in different eukaryotic organisms and explore the emerging notion that their shape, 3D architecture, and remodeling jointly define their cellular activity. The review also provides selected examples highlighting changes in membrane contact site architecture acting as rapid and local responses to cellular perturbations, and summarizes our current understanding of how those structural changes confer functional specificity to those cellular territories.

Interorganelle communication and membrane shaping in the early secretory pathway

Biomolecules in the secretory pathway use membrane trafficking for reaching their final intracellular destination or for secretion outside the cell. This highly dynamic and multipartite process involves different organelles that communicate to one another while maintaining their identity, shape, and function. Recent studies unraveled new mechanisms of interorganelle communication that help organize the early secretory pathway. We highlight how the spatial proximity between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites and early Golgi elements provides novel means of ER-Golgi communication for ER export. We also review recent findings on how membrane contact sites between the ER and the trans-Golgi membranes can sustain anterograde traffic out of the Golgi complex.

Morphological bases of phytoplankton energy management and physiological responses unveiled by 3D subcellular imaging

Eukaryotic phytoplankton have a small global biomass but play major roles in primary production and climate. Despite improved understanding of phytoplankton diversity and evolution, we largely ignore the cellular bases of their environmental plasticity. By comparative 3D morphometric analysis across seven distant phytoplankton taxa, we observe constant volume occupancy by the main organelles and preserved volumetric ratios between plastids and mitochondria. We hypothesise that phytoplankton subcellular topology is modulated by energy-management constraints. Consistent with this, shifting the diatom Phaeodactylum from low to high light enhances photosynthesis and respiration, increases cell-volume occupancy by mitochondria and the plastid CO₂-fixing pyrenoid, and boosts plastid-mitochondria contacts. Changes in organelle architectures and interactions also accompany Nannochloropsis acclimation to different trophic lifestyles, along with respiratory and photosynthetic responses. By revealing evolutionarily-conserved topologies of energy-managing organelles, and their role in phytoplankton acclimation, this work deciphers phytoplankton responses at subcellular scales.

Evaluation of multi-color genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators in filamentous fungi

Genetically encoded Ca²⁺ indicators (GECIs) enable long-term monitoring of cellular and subcellular dynamics of this second messenger in response to environmental and developmental cues without relying on exogenous dyes. Continued development and optimization in GECIs, combined with advances in gene manipulation, offer new opportunities for investigating the mechanism of Ca²⁺ signaling in fungi, ranging from documenting Ca²⁺ signatures under diverse conditions and genetic backgrounds to evaluating how changes in Ca²⁺ signature impact calcium-binding proteins and subsequent cellular changes. Here, we attempted to express multi-color (green, yellow, blue, cyan, and red) circularly permuted fluorescent protein (FP)-based Ca²⁺ indicators driven by multiple fungal promoters in Fusarium oxysporum, F. graminearum, and Neurospora crassa. Several variants were successfully expressed, with GCaMP5G driven by the Magnaporthe oryzae ribosomal protein 27 and F. verticillioides elongation factor-1α gene promoters being optimal for F. graminearum and F. oxysporum, respectively. Transformants expressing GCaMP5G were compared with those expressing YC3.60, a ratiometric Cameleon Ca²⁺ indicator. Wild-type and three Ca²⁺ signaling mutants of F. graminearum expressing GCaMP5G exhibited improved signal-to-noise and increased temporal and spatial resolution and are also more amenable to studies involving multiple FPs compared to strains expressing YC3.60.

ER-PM Contact Sites - SNARING Actors in Emerging Functions

The compartmentalisation achieved by confining cytoplasm into membrane-enclosed organelles in eukaryotic cells is essential for maintaining vital functions including ATP production, synthetic and degradative pathways. While intracellular organelles are highly specialised in these functions, the restricting membranes also impede exchange of molecules responsible for the synchronised and responsive cellular activities. The initial identification of contact sites between the ER and plasma membrane (PM) provided a potential candidate structure for communication between organelles without mixing by fusion. Over the past decades, research has revealed a far broader picture of the events. Membrane contact sites (MCSs) have been recognized as increasingly important actors in cell differentiation, plasticity and maintenance, and, upon dysfunction, responsible for pathological conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Present in multiple organelles and cell types, MCSs promote transport of lipids and Ca²⁺ homoeostasis, with a range of associated protein families. Interestingly, each MCS displays a unique molecular signature, adapted to organelle functions. This review will explore the literature describing the molecular components and interactions taking place at ER-PM contact sites, their functions, and implications in eukaryotic cells, particularly neurons, with emphasis on lipid transfer proteins and emerging function of SNAREs.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma Membrane Contact Sites: Regulators, Mechanisms, and Physiological Functions

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms direct membrane contact sites with the plasma membrane (PM) in eukaryotic cells. These ER-PM contact sites play essential roles in lipid homeostasis, ion dynamics, and cell signaling, which are carried out by protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions. Distinct tethering factors dynamically control the architecture of ER-PM junctions in response to intracellular signals or external stimuli. The physiological roles of ER-PM contact sites are dependent on a variety of regulators that individually or cooperatively perform functions in diverse cellular processes. This review focuses on proteins functioning at ER-PM contact sites and highlights the recent progress in their mechanisms and physiological roles.

TORC2-Dependent Ypk1-Mediated Phosphorylation of Lam2/Ltc4 Disrupts Its Association with the β-Propeller Protein Laf1 at Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma Membrane Contact Sites in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Membrane-tethered sterol-binding Lam/Ltc proteins localize at junctions between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and other organelles. Two of the six family members-Lam2/Ltc4 (initially Ysp2) and paralog Lam4/Ltc3-localize to ER-plasma membrane (PM) contact sites (CSs) and mediate retrograde ergosterol transport from the PM to the ER. Our prior work demonstrated that Lam2 and Lam4 are substrates of TORC2-regulated protein kinase Ypk1, that Ypk1-mediated phosphorylation inhibits their function in retrograde sterol transport, and that PM sterol retention bolsters cell survival under stressful conditions. At ER-PM CSs, Lam2 and Lam4 associate with Laf1/Ymr102c and Dgr2/Ykl121w (paralogous WD40 repeat-containing proteins) that reportedly bind sterol. Using fluorescent tags, we found that Lam2 and Lam4 remain at ER-PM CSs when Laf1 and Dgr2 are absent, whereas neither Laf1 nor Dgr2 remain at ER-PM CSs when Lam2 and Lam4 are absent. Loss of Laf1 (but not Dgr2) impedes retrograde ergosterol transport, and a laf1∆ mutation does not exacerbate the transport defect of lam2∆ lam4∆ cells, indicating a shared function. Lam2 and Lam4 bind Laf1 and Dgr2 in vitro in a pull-down assay, and the PH domain in Lam2 hinders its interaction with Laf1. Lam2 phosphorylated by Ypk1, and Lam2 with phosphomimetic (Glu) replacements at its Ypk1 sites, exhibited a marked reduction in Laf1 binding. Thus, phosphorylation prevents Lam2 interaction with Laf1 at ER-PM CSs, providing a mechanism by which Ypk1 action inhibits retrograde sterol transport.

Uptake of exogenous serine is important to maintain sphingolipid homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sphingolipids are abundant and essential molecules in eukaryotes that have crucial functions as signaling molecules and as membrane components. Sphingolipid biosynthesis starts in the endoplasmic reticulum with the condensation of serine and palmitoyl-CoA. Sphingolipid biosynthesis is highly regulated to maintain sphingolipid homeostasis. Even though, serine is an essential component of the sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway, its role in maintaining sphingolipid homeostasis has not been precisely studied. Here we show that serine uptake is an important factor for the regulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using genetic experiments, we find the broad-specificity amino acid permease Gnp1 to be important for serine uptake. We confirm these results with serine uptake assays in gnp1Δ cells. We further show that uptake of exogenous serine by Gnp1 is important to maintain cellular serine levels and observe a specific connection between serine uptake and the first step of sphingolipid biosynthesis. Using mass spectrometry-based flux analysis, we further observed imported serine as the main source for de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis. Our results demonstrate that yeast cells preferentially use the uptake of exogenous serine to regulate sphingolipid biosynthesis. Our study can also be a starting point to analyze the role of serine uptake in mammalian sphingolipid metabolism.

Sphingolipids (SPs) are membrane lipids globally required for eukaryotic life. In contrast to other lipid classes, SPs cannot be stored in the cell and therefore their levels have to be tightly regulated. Failure to maintain sphingolipid homeostasis can result in pathologies including neurodegeneration, childhood asthma and cancer. However, we are only starting to understand how SP biosynthesis is adjusted according to need. In this study, we use genetic and biochemical methods to show that the uptake of exogenous serine is necessary to maintain SP homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Serine is one of the precursors of long chain bases in cells, the first intermediate of SP metabolism. Our results suggest that the uptake of serine is directly coupled to SP biosynthesis at ER-plasma membrane contact sites. Overall, our study identifies serine uptake as a novel regulatory factor of SP homeostasis. While we use yeast as a discovery tool, these results also provide valuable insights into mammalian SP biology especially under pathological conditions.

Structural and Functional Specialization of OSBP-Related Proteins

Lipids are precisely distributed in the eukaryotic cell where they help to define organelle identity and function, in addition to their structural role. Once synthesized, many lipids must be delivered to other compartments by non-vesicular routes, a process that is undertaken by proteins called Lipid Transfer Proteins (LTPs). OSBP and the closely-related ORP and Osh proteins constitute a major, evolutionarily conserved family of LTPs in eukaryotes. Most of these target one or more subcellular regions, and membrane contact sites in particular, where two organelle membranes are in close proximity. It was initially thought that such proteins were strictly dedicated to sterol sensing or transport. However, over the last decade, numerous studies have revealed that these proteins have many more functions, and we have expanded our understanding of their mechanisms. In particular, many of them are lipid exchangers that exploit PI(4)P or possibly other phosphoinositide gradients to directionally transfer sterol or PS between two compartments. Importantly, these transfer activities are tightly coupled to processes such as lipid metabolism, cellular signalling and vesicular trafficking. This review describes the molecular architecture of OSBP/ORP/Osh proteins, showing how their specific structural features and internal configurations impart unique cellular functions.