Yeast Ist2 recruits the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane and creates a ribosome-free membrane microcompartment

The tether function of the anoctamins

The core functions of the anoctamins are Cl- channel activity and phosphatidylserine (and perhaps other lipids) scrambling. These functions have been extensively studied in various tissues and cells. However, another function of the anoctamins that is less recognized and minimally explored is as tethers at membrane contact sites. This short review aims to examine evidence supporting the localization of the anoctamins at membrane contact sites, their tether properties, and their functions as tethers.

A bird's-eye view of the endoplasmic reticulum in filamentous fungi

SUMMARYThe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is one of the most extensive organelles in eukaryotic cells. It performs crucial roles in protein and lipid synthesis and Ca2+ homeostasis. Most information on ER types, functions, organization, and domains comes from studies in uninucleate animal, plant, and yeast cells. In contrast, there is limited information on the multinucleate cells of filamentous fungi, i.e., hyphae. We provide an analytical review of existing literature to categorize different types of ER described in filamentous fungi while emphasizing the research techniques and markers used. Additionally, we identify the knowledge gaps that need to be resolved better to understand the structure-function correlation of ER in filamentous fungi. Finally, advanced technologies that can provide breakthroughs in understanding the ER in filamentous fungi are discussed.

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.

STIM Proteins and Regulation of SOCE in ER-PM Junctions

ER-PM junctions are membrane contact sites formed by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membrane (PM) in close apposition together. The formation and stability of these junctions are dependent on constitutive and dynamic enrichment of proteins, which either contribute to junctional stability or modulate the lipid levels of both ER and plasma membranes. The ER-PM junctions have come under much scrutiny recently as they serve as hubs for assembling the Ca²⁺ signaling complexes. This review summarizes: (1) key findings that underlie the abilities of STIM proteins to accumulate in ER-PM junctions; (2) the modulation of Orai/STIM complexes by other components found within the same junction; and (3) how Orai1 channel activation is coordinated and coupled with downstream signaling pathways.

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.

Boosting endoplasmic reticulum folding capacity reduces unfolded protein response activation and intracellular accumulation of human kidney anion exchanger 1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Human kidney anion exchanger 1 (kAE1) facilitates simultaneous efflux of bicarbonate and absorption of chloride at the basolateral membrane of α-intercalated cells. In these cells, kAE1 contributes to systemic acid-base balance along with the proton pump v-H⁺ -ATPase and the cytosolic carbonic anhydrase II. Recent electron microscopy analyses in yeast demonstrate that heterologous expression of several kAE1 variants causes a massive accumulation of the anion transporter in intracellular membrane structures. Here, we examined the origin of these kAE1 aggregations in more detail. Using various biochemical techniques and advanced light and electron microscopy, we showed that accumulation of kAE1 mainly occurs in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes which eventually leads to strong unfolded protein response (UPR) activation and severe growth defect in kAE1 expressing yeast cells. Furthermore, our data indicate that UPR activation is dose dependent and uncoupled from the bicarbonate transport activity. By using truncated kAE1 variants, we identified the C-terminal region of kAE1 as crucial factor for the increased ER stress level. Finally, a redistribution of ER-localized kAE1 to the cell periphery was achieved by boosting the ER folding capacity. Our findings not only demonstrate a promising strategy for preventing intracellular kAE1 accumulation and improving kAE1 plasma membrane targeting but also highlight the versatility of yeast as model to investigate kAE1-related research questions including the analysis of structural features, protein degradation and trafficking. Furthermore, our approach might be a promising strategy for future analyses to further optimize the cell surface targeting of other disease-related PM proteins, not only in yeast but also in mammalian cells.

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.

Molecular machineries and physiological relevance of ER-mediated membrane contacts

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) are defined as regions where two organelles are closely apposed, and most MCSs associated with each other via protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions. A number of key molecular machinery systems participate in mediating substance exchange and signal transduction, both of which are essential processes in terms of cellular physiology and pathophysiology. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the largest reticulum network within the cell and has extensive communication with other cellular organelles, including the plasma membrane (PM), mitochondria, Golgi, endosomes and lipid droplets (LDs). The contacts and reactions between them are largely mediated by various protein tethers and lipids. Ions, lipids and even proteins can be transported between the ER and neighboring organelles or recruited to the contact site to exert their functions. This review focuses on the key molecules involved in the formation of different contact sites as well as their biological functions.

Dysferlin-deficient myotubes show tethering of different membrane compartments characterized by TMEM16E and DHPRα

TMEM16E deficiency has been shown to be responsible for human limb-girdle muscular dystrophy LGMD2L. We found that endogenous TMEM16E co-localized with caveolin-3 at cytoplasmic vesicular compartments in a myotube from C2C12 cells (C2C12 myotube) without forming a molecular complex. In contrast, a myotube from murine myoblastic dysferlin-deficient GREG cells (GREG myotube) showed not only co-localization but also constitutive association of caveolin-3 and TMEM16E. GREG myotubes also displayed constitutive association of TMEM16E with DHPRα, which reside in different membrane compartments, indicating increased contact of the different vesicular membrane compartments. Τhese results suggest that a dynamic tethering of different membrane compartments might represent a distorted membrane damage repairing process in the absence of dysferlin.

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.

Sticking With It: ER-PM Membrane Contact Sites as a Coordinating Nexus for Regulating Lipids and Proteins at the Cell Cortex

Membrane contact sites between the cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane (PM) provide a direct conduit for small molecule transfer and signaling between the two largest membranes of the cell. Contact is established through ER integral membrane proteins that physically tether the two membranes together, though the general mechanism is remarkably non-specific given the diversity of different tethering proteins. Primary tethers including VAMP-associated proteins (VAPs), Anoctamin/TMEM16/Ist2p homologs, and extended synaptotagmins (E-Syts), are largely conserved in most eukaryotes and are both necessary and sufficient for establishing ER-PM association. In addition, other species-specific ER-PM tether proteins impart unique functional attributes to both membranes at the cell cortex. This review distils recent functional and structural findings about conserved and species-specific tethers that form ER-PM contact sites, with an emphasis on their roles in the coordinate regulation of lipid metabolism, cellular structure, and responses to membrane stress.

Lipid Exchangers: Cellular Functions and Mechanistic Links With Phosphoinositide Metabolism

Lipids are amphiphilic molecules that self-assemble to form biological membranes. Thousands of lipid species coexist in the cell and, once combined, define organelle identity. Due to recent progress in lipidomic analysis, we now know how lipid composition is finely tuned in different subcellular regions. Along with lipid synthesis, remodeling and flip-flop, lipid transfer is one of the active processes that regulates this intracellular lipid distribution. It is mediated by Lipid Transfer Proteins (LTPs) that precisely move certain lipid species across the cytosol and between the organelles. A particular subset of LTPs from three families (Sec14, PITP, OSBP/ORP/Osh) act as lipid exchangers. A striking feature of these exchangers is that they use phosphatidylinositol or phosphoinositides (PIPs) as a lipid ligand and thereby have specific links with PIP metabolism and are thus able to both control the lipid composition of cellular membranes and their signaling capacity. As a result, they play pivotal roles in cellular processes such as vesicular trafficking and signal transduction at the plasma membrane. Recent data have shown that some PIPs are used as energy by lipid exchangers to generate lipid gradients between organelles. Here we describe the importance of lipid counter-exchange in the cell, its structural basis, and presumed links with pathologies.

Fungal plasma membrane domains

The plasma membrane (PM) performs a plethora of physiological processes, the coordination of which requires spatial and temporal organization into specialized domains of different sizes, stability, protein/lipid composition and overall architecture. Compartmentalization of the PM has been particularly well studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where five non-overlapping domains have been described: The Membrane Compartments containing the arginine permease Can1 (MCC), the H+-ATPase Pma1 (MCP), the TORC2 kinase (MCT), the sterol transporters Ltc3/4 (MCL), and the cell wall stress mechanosensor Wsc1 (MCW). Additional cortical foci at the fungal PM are the sites where clathrin-dependent endocytosis occurs, the sites where the external pH sensing complex PAL/Rim localizes, and sterol-rich domains found in apically grown regions of fungal membranes. In this review, we summarize knowledge from several fungal species regarding the organization of the lateral PM segregation. We discuss the mechanisms of formation of these domains, and the mechanisms of partitioning of proteins there. Finally, we discuss the physiological roles of the best-known membrane compartments, including the regulation of membrane and cell wall homeostasis, apical growth of fungal cells and the newly emerging role of MCCs as starvation-protective membrane domains.

TMEM16K is an interorganelle regulator of endosomal sorting

Communication between organelles is essential for their cellular homeostasis. Neurodegeneration reflects the declining ability of neurons to maintain cellular homeostasis over a lifetime, where the endolysosomal pathway plays a prominent role by regulating protein and lipid sorting and degradation. Here we report that TMEM16K, an endoplasmic reticulum lipid scramblase causative for spinocerebellar ataxia (SCAR10), is an interorganelle regulator of the endolysosomal pathway. We identify endosomal transport as a major functional cluster of TMEM16K in proximity biotinylation proteomics analyses. TMEM16K forms contact sites with endosomes, reconstituting split-GFP with the small GTPase RAB7. Our study further implicates TMEM16K lipid scrambling activity in endosomal sorting at these sites. Loss of TMEM16K function led to impaired endosomal retrograde transport and neuromuscular function, one of the symptoms of SCAR10. Thus, TMEM16K-containing ER-endosome contact sites represent clinically relevant platforms for regulating endosomal sorting.

Osh6 requires Ist2 for localization to ER-PM contacts and efficient phosphatidylserine transport in budding yeast

Osh6 and Osh7 are lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) that move phosphatidylserine (PS) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the plasma membrane (PM). High PS levels at the PM are key for many cellular functions. Intriguingly, Osh6 and Osh7 localize to ER-PM contact sites, although they lack membrane-targeting motifs, in contrast to multidomain LTPs that both bridge membranes and convey lipids. We show that Osh6 localization to contact sites depends on its interaction with the cytosolic tail of the ER-PM tether Ist2, a homolog of TMEM16 proteins. We identify a motif in the Ist2 tail, conserved in yeasts, as the Osh6-binding region, and we map an Ist2-binding surface on Osh6. Mutations in the Ist2 tail phenocopy osh6Δ osh7Δ deletion: they decrease cellular PS levels and block PS transport to the PM. Our study unveils an unexpected partnership between a TMEM16-like protein and a soluble LTP, which together mediate lipid transport at contact sites.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Closing the Gap: Membrane Contact Sites in the Regulation of Autophagy

In all eukaryotic cells, intracellular organization and spatial separation of incompatible biochemical processes is established by individual cellular subcompartments in form of membrane-bound organelles. Virtually all of these organelles are physically connected via membrane contact sites (MCS), allowing interorganellar communication and a functional integration of cellular processes. These MCS coordinate the exchange of diverse metabolites and serve as hubs for lipid synthesis and trafficking. While this of course indirectly impacts on a plethora of biological functions, including autophagy, accumulating evidence shows that MCS can also directly regulate autophagic processes. Here, we focus on the nexus between interorganellar contacts and autophagy in yeast and mammalian cells, highlighting similarities and differences. We discuss MCS connecting the ER to mitochondria or the plasma membrane, crucial for early steps of both selective and non-selective autophagy, the yeast-specific nuclear-vacuolar tethering system and its role in microautophagy, the emerging function of distinct autophagy-related proteins in organellar tethering as well as novel MCS transiently emanating from the growing phagophore and mature autophagosome.

Ca2+ Signaling in Exocrine Cells

Calcium (Ca²⁺) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling cross talk and synergize to stimulate the cardinal functions of exocrine cells, regulated exocytosis, and fluid and electrolyte secretion. This physiological process requires the organization of the two signaling pathways into complexes at defined cellular domains and close placement. Such domains are formed by membrane contact sites (MCS). This review discusses the basic properties of Ca²⁺ signaling in exocrine cells, the role of MCS in the organization of cell signaling and in cross talk and synergism between the Ca²⁺ and cAMP signaling pathways and, finally, the mechanism by which the Ca²⁺ and cAMP pathways synergize to stimulate epithelial fluid and electrolyte secretion.

Tricalbin-Mediated Contact Sites Control ER Curvature to Maintain Plasma Membrane Integrity

Membrane contact sites (MCS) between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane (PM) play fundamental roles in all eukaryotic cells. ER-PM MCS are particularly abundant in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where approximately half of the PM surface is covered by cortical ER (cER). Several proteins, including Ist2, Scs2/22, and Tcb1/2/3 are implicated in cER formation, but the specific roles of these molecules are poorly understood. Here, we use cryo-electron tomography to show that ER-PM tethers are key determinants of cER morphology. Notably, Tcb proteins (tricalbins) form peaks of extreme curvature on the cER membrane facing the PM. Combined modeling and functional assays suggest that Tcb-mediated cER peaks facilitate the transport of lipids between the cER and the PM, which is necessary to maintain PM integrity under heat stress. ER peaks were also present at other MCS, implying that membrane curvature enforcement may be a widespread mechanism to regulate MCS function.

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

Lipid flow between cellular organelles occurs via membrane contact sites. Extended-synaptotagmins, known as tricalbins in yeast, mediate lipid transfer between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membrane (PM). How these proteins regulate membrane architecture to transport lipids across the aqueous space between bilayers remains unknown. Using correlative microscopy, electron cryo-tomography, and high-throughput genetics, we address the interplay of architecture and function in budding yeast. We find that ER-PM contacts differ in protein composition and membrane morphology, not in intermembrane distance. In situ electron cryo-tomography reveals the molecular organization of tricalbin-mediated contacts, suggesting a structural framework for putative lipid transfer. Genetic analysis uncovers functional overlap with cellular lipid routes, such as maintenance of PM asymmetry. Further redundancies are suggested for individual tricalbin protein domains. We propose a modularity of molecular and structural functions of tricalbins and of their roles within the cellular network of lipid distribution pathways.

Contribution of Anoctamins to Cell Survival and Cell Death

Before anoctamins (TMEM16 proteins) were identified as a family of Ca2+-activated chloride channels and phospholipid scramblases, the founding member anoctamin 1 (ANO1, TMEM16A) was known as DOG1, a marker protein for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Meanwhile, ANO1 has been examined in more detail, and the role of ANO1 in cell proliferation and the development of different types of malignomas is now well established. While ANO5, ANO7, and ANO9 may also be relevant for growth of cancers, evidence has been provided for a role of ANO6 (TMEM16F) in regulated cell death. The cellular mechanisms by which anoctamins control cell proliferation and cell death, respectively, are just emerging; however, the pronounced effects of anoctamins on intracellular Ca2+ levels are likely to play a significant role. Recent results suggest that some anoctamins control membrane exocytosis by setting Ca2+i levels near the plasma membrane, and/or by controlling the intracellular Cl- concentration. Exocytosis and increased membrane trafficking induced by ANO1 and ANO6 may enhance membrane expression of other chloride channels, such as CFTR and volume activated chloride channels (VRAC). Notably, ANO6-induced phospholipid scrambling with exposure of phosphatidylserine is pivotal for the sheddase function of disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM). This may support cell death and tumorigenic activity of IL-6 by inducing IL-6 trans-signaling. The reported anticancer effects of the anthelminthic drug niclosamide are probably related to the potent inhibitory effect on ANO1, apart from inducing cell cycle arrest through the Let-7d/CDC34 axis. On the contrary, pronounced activation of ANO6 due to a large increase in intracellular calcium, activation of phospholipase A2 or lipid peroxidation, can lead to ferroptotic death of cancer cells. It therefore appears reasonable to search for both inhibitors and potent activators of TMEM16 in order to interfere with cancer growth and metastasis.

Expanded genetic screening in Caenorhabditis elegans identifies new regulators and an inhibitory role for NAD+ in axon regeneration

The mechanisms underlying axon regeneration in mature neurons are relevant to the understanding of normal nervous system maintenance and for developing therapeutic strategies for injury. Here, we report novel pathways in axon regeneration, identified by extending our previous function-based screen using the C. elegans mechanosensory neuron axotomy model. We identify an unexpected role of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) synthesizing enzyme, NMAT-2/NMNAT, in axon regeneration. NMAT-2 inhibits axon regrowth via cell-autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms. NMAT-2 enzymatic activity is required to repress regrowth. Further, we find differential requirements for proteins in membrane contact site, components and regulators of the extracellular matrix, membrane trafficking, microtubule and actin cytoskeleton, the conserved Kelch-domain protein IVNS-1, and the orphan transporter MFSD-6 in axon regrowth. Identification of these new pathways expands our understanding of the molecular basis of axonal injury response and regeneration.

Endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact sites integrate sterol and phospholipid regulation

Tether proteins attach the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to other cellular membranes, thereby creating contact sites that are proposed to form platforms for regulating lipid homeostasis and facilitating non-vesicular lipid exchange. Sterols are synthesized in the ER and transported by non-vesicular mechanisms to the plasma membrane (PM), where they represent almost half of all PM lipids and contribute critically to the barrier function of the PM. To determine whether contact sites are important for both sterol exchange between the ER and PM and intermembrane regulation of lipid metabolism, we generated Δ-super-tether (Δ-s-tether) yeast cells that lack six previously identified tethering proteins (yeast extended synatotagmin [E-Syt], vesicle-associated membrane protein [VAMP]-associated protein [VAP], and TMEM16-anoctamin homologues) as well as the presumptive tether Ice2. Despite the lack of ER-PM contacts in these cells, ER-PM sterol exchange is robust, indicating that the sterol transport machinery is either absent from or not uniquely located at contact sites. Unexpectedly, we found that the transport of exogenously supplied sterol to the ER occurs more slowly in Δ-s-tether cells than in wild-type (WT) cells. We pinpointed this defect to changes in sterol organization and transbilayer movement within the PM bilayer caused by phospholipid dysregulation, evinced by changes in the abundance and organization of PM lipids. Indeed, deletion of either OSH4, which encodes a sterol/phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P) exchange protein, or SAC1, which encodes a PI4P phosphatase, caused synthetic lethality in Δ-s-tether cells due to disruptions in redundant PI4P and phospholipid regulatory pathways. The growth defect of Δ-s-tether cells was rescued with an artificial "ER-PM staple," a tether assembled from unrelated non-yeast protein domains, indicating that endogenous tether proteins have nonspecific bridging functions. Finally, we discovered that sterols play a role in regulating ER-PM contact site formation. In sterol-depleted cells, levels of the yeast E-Syt tether Tcb3 were induced and ER-PM contact increased dramatically. These results support a model in which ER-PM contact sites provide a nexus for coordinating the complex interrelationship between sterols, sphingolipids, and phospholipids that maintain PM composition and integrity.

Almost half of the inner surface area of the yeast plasma membrane (PM) is covered with closely associated cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In yeast and human cells, it has been proposed that ER-anchored tether proteins staple the ER to the PM, creating membrane contact sites at which lipid transport between the ER and PM and membrane lipid synthesis are coordinately regulated, but the potential mechanisms are unclear. Here, we test this idea by creating yeast cells that lack all ER-PM tethers. We find that whereas the bidirectional transport of sterols between the ER and PM is unaffected in these cells, sterols within the PM are disorganized due to disruptions in phospholipid biosynthesis that alter PM lipid composition. In particular, we show that phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate, a phospholipid needed for intracellular signaling and membrane trafficking, accumulates within the PM. Some of these defects can be rescued by reinstating membrane contacts via expression of an artificial tether. However, correction is also achieved without the creation of contacts by supplementing the growth medium with a precursor of membrane phospholipids. Based on these results, we propose that ER-PM contacts do not play a major role as physical conduits for lipid exchange but rather serve as regulatory interfaces to integrate lipid synthesis pathways.

An ancestral TMEM16 homolog from Dictyostelium discoideum forms a scramblase

TMEM16 proteins are a recently identified protein family comprising Ca2+-activated Cl- channels that generate outwardly rectifying ionic currents in response to intracellular Ca2+ elevations. Some TMEM16 family members, such as TMEM16F/ANO6 are also essential for Ca2+-dependent phospholipid scrambling. TMEM16-like genes are present in the genomes of most eukaryotic species, the function(s) of TMEM16 family members from evolutionary ancient eukaryotes is not completely clear. Here, we provide insight into the evolution of these TMEM16 proteins by similarity searches for ancestral sequences. All eukaryotic genomes contain TMEM16 homologs, but only vertebrates have the full repertoire of ten distinct subtypes. TMEM16 homologs studied so far belong to the opisthokont branch of the phylogenetic tree, which includes the animal and fungal kingdoms. An organism outside this group is Dictyostelium discoideum, a representative of the amoebozoa group that diverged from the metazoa before fungi. We here functionally investigated the TMEM16 family member from Dictyostelium discoideum. When recombinantly expressed in HEK293 cells, DdTMEM16 induces phospholipid scrambling. However, in several electrophysiological experiments we did not find evidence for a Ca2+-activated Cl- channel function of DdTMEM16.

pH homeostasis links the nutrient sensing PKA/TORC1/Sch9 ménage-à-trois to stress tolerance and longevity

The plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase Pma1 and the vacuolar V-ATPase act in close harmony to tightly control pH homeostasis, which is essential for a vast number of physiological processes. As these main two regulators of pH are responsive to the nutritional status of the cell, it seems evident that pH homeostasis acts in conjunction with nutrient-induced signalling pathways. Indeed, both PKA and the TORC1-Sch9 axis influence the proton pumping activity of the V-ATPase and possibly also of Pma1. In addition, it recently became clear that the proton acts as a second messenger to signal glucose availability via the V-ATPase to PKA and TORC1-Sch9. Given the prominent role of nutrient signalling in longevity, it is not surprising that pH homeostasis has been linked to ageing and longevity as well. A first indication is provided by acetic acid, whose uptake by the cell induces toxicity and affects longevity. Secondly, vacuolar acidity has been linked to autophagic processes, including mitophagy. In agreement with this, a decline in vacuolar acidity was shown to induce mitochondrial dysfunction and shorten lifespan. In addition, the asymmetric inheritance of Pma1 has been associated with replicative ageing and this again links to repercussions on vacuolar pH. Taken together, accumulating evidence indicates that pH homeostasis plays a prominent role in the determination of ageing and longevity, thereby providing new perspectives and avenues to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma Membrane Contact Sites

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has a broad localization throughout the cell and forms direct physical contacts with all other classes of membranous organelles, including the plasma membrane (PM). A number of protein tethers that mediate these contacts have been identified, and study of these protein tethers has revealed a multiplicity of roles in cell physiology, including regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺ dynamics and signaling as well as control of lipid traffic and homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the cross talk between the ER and the PM mediated by direct contacts. We review factors that tether the two membranes, their properties, and their dynamics in response to the functional state of the cell. We focus in particular on the role of ER-PM contacts in nonvesicular lipid transport between the two bilayers mediated by lipid transfer proteins.

Anoctamins/TMEM16 Proteins: Chloride Channels Flirting with Lipids and Extracellular Vesicles

Anoctamin (ANO)/TMEM16 proteins exhibit diverse functions in cells throughout the body and are implicated in several human diseases. Although the founding members ANO1 (TMEM16A) and ANO2 (TMEM16B) are Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channels, most ANO paralogs are Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipid scramblases that serve as channels facilitating the movement (scrambling) of phospholipids between leaflets of the membrane bilayer. Phospholipid scrambling significantly alters the physical properties of the membrane and its landscape and has vast downstream signaling consequences. In particular, phosphatidylserine exposed on the external leaflet of the plasma membrane functions as a ligand for receptors vital for cell-cell communication. A major consequence of Ca²⁺-dependent scrambling is the release of extracellular vesicles that function as intercellular messengers by delivering signaling proteins and noncoding RNAs to alter target cell function. We discuss the physiological implications of Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipid scrambling, the extracellular vesicles associated with this activity, and the roles of ANOs in these processes.

Expression of anoctamins in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)

The anoctamin (ANO, TMEM16) family of Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channels consists of ten members with different cellular functions (ANO1-10). ANO1 is a Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channel in secretory epithelial cells of exocrine pancreas, salivary glands, or enterocytes. Expression of ANO1 also promotes cell proliferation and migration of tumor cells. ANO6 is essential for Ca²⁺-dependent scrambling of membrane phospholipids in platelets, red blood cells, and lymphocytes. ANO10 modulates Ca²⁺ signals in macrophages and has a role in cerebellar ataxia and other neurological disorders. All three anoctamins have been proposed to control intracellular Ca²⁺ signals. Anoctamins may also form the basolateral Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channel in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We show that native human, bovine, porcine, and mouse RPEs express ANO1, ANO6, and ANO10. Growth arrested and confluent RPR cells expressed ANO1 in the plasma membrane, whereas ANO6 and ANO10 were found in the primary cilium. Ussing chamber experiments showed that the application of ATP to the apical (retinal) side of porcine RPE induced a Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- secretion. Activation was inhibited by basolateral (choroidal) administration of the ANO inhibitors AO1, niflumic acid (NFA), and 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS). The results suggest that ANO1 is responsible for basolateral Ca²⁺-dependent Cl^- secretion in RPE, whereas ANO6 and ANO10 may have different functions, such as modulating Ca²⁺ signals.

Piecing Together the Patchwork of Contact Sites

Contact sites are places where two organelles join together to carry out a shared activity requiring nonvesicular communication. A large number of contact sites have been discovered, and almost any two organelles can contact each other. General rules about contacts include constraints on bridging proteins, with only a minority of bridges physically creating contacts by acting as 'tethers'. The downstream effects of contacts include changing the physical behaviour of organelles, and also forming biochemically heterogeneous subdomains. However, some functions typically localized to contact sites, such as lipid transfer, have no absolute requirement to be situated there. Therefore, the key aspect of contacts is the directness of communication, which allows metabolic channelling and collective regulation.

Forging the ring: from fungal septins' divergent roles in morphology, septation and virulence to factors contributing to their assembly into higher order structures

Septins are a conserved family of GTP-binding proteins that are distributed across different lineages of the eukaryotes, with the exception of plants. Septins perform a myriad of functions in fungal cells, ranging from controlling morphogenetic events to contributing to host tissue invasion and virulence. One key attribute of the septins is their ability to assemble into heterooligomeric complexes that organizse into higher order structures. In addition to the established role of septins in the model budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, their importance in other fungi recently emerges. While newer roles for septins are being uncovered in these fungi, the mechanism of how septins assemble into a complex and their regulation is only beginning to be comprehended. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the role of septins in different fungi and focus on how the septin complexes of different fungi are organized in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we discuss on how phosphorylation/dephosphorylation can serve as an important mechanism of septin complex assembly and regulation.

Septins and Generation of Asymmetries in Fungal Cells

Polarized growth is critical for the development and maintenance of diverse organisms and tissues but particularly so in fungi, where nutrient uptake, communication, and reproduction all rely on cell asymmetries. To achieve polarized growth, fungi spatially organize both their cytosol and cortical membranes. Septins, a family of GTP-binding proteins, are key regulators of spatial compartmentalization in fungi and other eukaryotes. Septins form higher-order structures on fungal plasma membranes and are thought to contribute to the generation of cell asymmetries by acting as molecular scaffolds and forming diffusional barriers. Here we discuss the links between septins and polarized growth and consider molecular models for how septins contribute to cellular asymmetry in fungi.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma Membrane Associations:Structures and Functions

Inside eukaryotic cells, membrane contact sites (MCSs), regions where two membrane-bound organelles are apposed at less than 30 nm, generate regions of important lipid and calcium exchange. This review principally focuses on the structure and the function of MCSs between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane (PM). Here we describe how tethering structures form and maintain these junctions and, in some instances, participate in their function. We then discuss recent insights into the mechanisms by which specific classes of proteins mediate nonvesicular lipid exchange between the ER and PM and how such phenomena, already known to be crucial for maintaining organelle identity, are also emerging as regulators of cell growth and development.

New Insight Into the Roles of Membrane Microdomains in Physiological Activities of Fungal Cells

The organization of biological membranes into structurally and functionally distinct lateral microdomains is generally accepted. From bacteria to mammals, laterally compartmentalized membranes seem to be a vital attribute of life. The crucial fraction of our current knowledge about the membrane microdomains has been gained from studies on fungi. In this review we summarize the evidence of the microdomain organization of membranes from fungal cells, with accent on their enormous diversity in composition, temporal dynamics, modes of formation, and recognized engagement in the cell physiology. A special emphasis is laid on the fact that in addition to their other biological functions, membrane microdomains also mediate the communication among different membranes within a eukaryotic cell and coordinate their functions. Involvement of fungal membrane microdomains in stress sensing, regulation of lipid homeostasis, and cell differentiation is discussed more in detail.

A Pore Idea: the ion conduction pathway of TMEM16/ANO proteins is composed partly of lipid

Since their first descriptions, ion channels have been conceived as proteinaceous conduits that facilitate the passage of ionic cargo between segregated environments. This concept is reinforced by crystallographic structures of cation channels depicting ion conductance pathways completely lined by protein. Although lipids are sometimes present in fenestrations near the pore or may be involved in channel gating, there is little or no evidence that lipids inhabit the ion conduction pathway. Indeed, the presence of lipid acyl chains in the conductance pathway would curse the design of the channel's aqueous pore. Here, we make a speculative proposal that anion channels in the TMEM16/ANO superfamily have ion conductance pathways composed partly of lipids. Our reasoning is based on the idea that TMEM16 ion channels evolved from a kind of lipid transporter that scrambles lipids between leaflets of the membrane bilayer and the modeled structural similarity between TMEM16 lipid scramblases and TMEM16 anion channels. This novel view of the TMEM16 pore offers explanation for the biophysical and pharmacological oddness of TMEM16A. We build upon the recent X-ray structure of nhTMEM16 and develop models of both TMEM16 ion channels and lipid scramblases to bolster our proposal. It is our hope that this model of the TMEM16 pore will foster innovative investigation into TMEM16 function.

Orai1 and STIM1 in ER/PM junctions: roles in pancreatic cell function and dysfunction

Membrane contact sites (MCS) are critical junctions that form between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and membranes of various organelles, including the plasma membrane (PM). Signaling complexes, including mediators of Ca(2+) signaling, are assembled within MCS, such as the ER/PM junction. This is most evident in polarized epithelial cells, such as pancreatic cells. Core Ca(2+) signaling proteins cluster at the apical pole, the site of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated Ca(2+) release and Orai1/transient receptor potential canonical-mediated store-dependent Ca(2+) entry. Recent advances have characterized the proteins that tether the membranes at MCS and the role of these proteins in modulating physiological and pathological intracellular signaling. This review discusses recent advances in the characterization of Ca(2+) signaling at ER/PM junctions and the relation of these junctions to physiological and pathological Ca(2+) signaling in pancreatic acini.

Animal cell cytokinesis: The role of dynamic changes in the plasma membrane proteome and lipidome

In animal cells, cytokinesis is characterised by the formation of the mitotic spindle that signals the assembly of an actomyosin ring between the spindle poles. Contraction of this ring drives ingression of the cleavage furrow, and culminates in the formation of a thin intercellular bridge between the daughter cells. At the centre of this bridge is the midbody, which is thought both to provide a site of attachment for the plasma membrane furrow and act as foci for the spatial and temporal control mechanisms that drive abscission. This review will focus upon recent studies that offer new insight into these events, in particular studies that elaborate on the mechanism of attachment between the furrow plasma membrane and the underlying cytoskeleton, and how dynamic changes in membrane composition might underpin key aspects of cytokinesis.

Modulating Ca²⁺ signals: a common theme for TMEM16, Ist2, and TMC

Since the discovery of TMEM16A (anoctamin 1, ANO1) as Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel, the protein was found to serve different physiological functions, depending on the type of tissue. Subsequent reports on other members of the anoctamin family demonstrated a broad range of yet poorly understood properties. Compromised anoctamin function is causing a wide range of diseases, such as hearing loss (ANO2), bleeding disorder (ANO6), ataxia and dystonia (ANO3, 10), persistent borrelia and mycobacteria infection (ANO10), skeletal syndromes like gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia and limb girdle muscle dystrophy (ANO5), and cancer (ANO1, 6, 7). Animal models demonstrate CF-like airway disease, asthma, and intestinal hyposecretion (ANO1). Although present data indicate that ANO1 is a Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel, it remains unclear whether all anoctamins form plasma membrane-localized or intracellular chloride channels. We find Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) currents appearing by expression of most anoctamin paralogs, including the Nectria haematococca homologue nhTMEM16 and the yeast homologue Ist2. As recent studies show a role of anoctamins, Ist2, and the related transmembrane channel-like (TMC) proteins for intracellular Ca(2+) signaling, we will discuss the role of these proteins in generating compartmentalized Ca(2+) signals, which may give a hint as to the broad range of cellular functions of anoctamins.

TMEM110 regulates the maintenance and remodeling of mammalian ER-plasma membrane junctions competent for STIM-ORAI signaling

The stromal interaction molecule (STIM)-ORAI calcium release-activated calcium modulator (ORAI) pathway controls store-dependent calcium entry, a major mechanism of physiological calcium signaling in mammalian cells. The core elements of the pathway are the regulatory protein STIM1, located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, the calcium channel ORAI1 in the plasma membrane, and sites of close contact between the ER and the plasma membrane that permit the two proteins to interact. Research on calcium signaling has centered on STIM1, ORAI1, and a few proteins that directly modulate STIM-ORAI function. However, little is known about proteins that organize ER-plasma membrane junctions for STIM-ORAI-dependent calcium signaling. Here, we report that an ER-resident membrane protein identified in a previous genome-wide RNAi screen, transmembrane protein 110 (TMEM110), regulates the long-term maintenance of ER-plasma membrane junctions and the short-term physiological remodeling of the junctions during store-dependent calcium signaling.

The ER/PM microdomain, PI(4,5)P₂ and the regulation of STIM1-Orai1 channel function

All forms of cell signaling occur in discreet cellular microdomains in which the ER is the main participant and include microdomains formed by the ER with lysosomes, endosomes, the nucleus, mitochondria and the plasma membrane. In the microdomains the two opposing organelles transfer and exchange constituents including lipids and ions. As is the case for other forms of signaling pathways, many components of the receptor-evoked Ca(2+) signal are clustered at the ER/PM microdomain, including the Orai1-STIM1 complex. This review discusses recent advances in understanding the molecular components that tether the ER and plasma membrane to form the ER/PM microdomains in which PI(4,5)P2 is enriched, and how dynamic targeting of the Orai1-STIM1 complex to PI(4,5)P2-poor and PI(4,5)P2-rich microdomains controls the activity of Orai1 and its regulation by Ca(2+) that is mediated by SARAF.

Identification of a lipid scrambling domain in ANO6/TMEM16F

Phospholipid scrambling (PLS) is a ubiquitous cellular mechanism involving the regulated bidirectional transport of phospholipids down their concentration gradient between membrane leaflets. ANO6/TMEM16F has been shown to be essential for Ca(2+)-dependent PLS, but controversy surrounds whether ANO6 is a phospholipid scramblase or an ion channel like other ANO/TMEM16 family members. Combining patch clamp recording with measurement of PLS, we show that ANO6 elicits robust Ca(2+)-dependent PLS coinciding with ionic currents that are explained by ionic leak during phospholipid translocation. By analyzing ANO1-ANO6 chimeric proteins, we identify a domain in ANO6 necessary for PLS and sufficient to confer this function on ANO1, which normally does not scramble. Homology modeling shows that the scramblase domain forms an unusual hydrophilic cleft that faces the lipid bilayer and may function to facilitate translocation of phospholipid between membrane leaflets. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding PLS and how ANO6 functions in this process.

Barriers to the free diffusion of proteins and lipids in the plasma membrane

Biological membranes segregate into specialized functional domains of distinct composition, which can persist for the entire life of the cell. How separation of their lipid and (glyco)protein components is generated and maintained is not well understood, but the existence of diffusional barriers has been proposed. Remarkably, the physical nature of such barriers and the manner whereby they impede the free diffusion of molecules in the plane of the membrane has rarely been studied in depth. Moreover, alternative mechanisms capable of generating membrane inhomogeneity are often disregarded. Here we describe prototypical biological systems where membrane segregation has been amply documented and discuss the role of diffusional barriers and other processes in the generation and maintenance of their structural and functional compartmentalization.

Sharing the cell's bounty - organelle inheritance in yeast

Eukaryotic cells replicate and partition their organelles between the mother cell and the daughter cell at cytokinesis. Polarized cells, notably the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are well suited for the study of organelle inheritance, as they facilitate an experimental dissection of organelle transport and retention processes. Much progress has been made in defining the molecular players involved in organelle partitioning in yeast. Each organelle uses a distinct set of factors - motor, anchor and adaptor proteins - that ensures its inheritance by future generations of cells. We propose that all organelles, regardless of origin or copy number, are partitioned by the same fundamental mechanism involving division and segregation. Thus, the mother cell keeps, and the daughter cell receives, their fair and equitable share of organelles. This mechanism of partitioning moreover facilitates the segregation of organelle fragments that are not functionally equivalent. In this Commentary, we describe how this principle of organelle population control affects peroxisomes and other organelles, and outline its implications for yeast life span and rejuvenation.

A protein complex containing Epo1p anchors the cortical endoplasmic reticulum to the yeast bud tip

As a component of the polarisome, Epo1p promotes cortical ER tethering at sites of polarized growth in budding yeast.

The cortical endoplasmic reticulum (cER) of yeast underlies the plasma membrane (PM) at specific contact sites to enable a direct transfer of information and material between both organelles. During budding, directed movement of cER to the young bud followed by subsequent anchorage at its tip ensures the faithful inheritance of this organelle. The ER membrane protein Scs2p tethers the cER to the PM and to the bud tip through so far unknown receptors. We characterize Epo1p as a novel member of the polarisome that interacts with Scs2p exclusively at the cell tip during bud growth and show that Epo1p binds simultaneously to the Cdc42p guanosine triphosphatase–activating protein Bem3p. Deletion of EPO1 or deletion of BEM3 in a polarisome-deficient strain reduces the amount of cER at the tip. This analysis therefore identifies Epo1p as a novel and important component of the polarisome that promotes cER tethering at sites of polarized growth.

Cell and molecular biology of septins

Septins are a family of GTP-binding proteins that assemble into cytoskeletal filaments. Unlike other cytoskeletal components, septins form ordered arrays of defined stoichiometry that can polymerize into long filaments and bundle laterally. Septins associate directly with membranes and have been implicated in providing membrane stability and serving as diffusion barriers for membrane proteins. In addition, septins bind other proteins and have been shown to function as multimolecular scaffolds by recruiting components of signaling pathways. Remarkably, septins participate in a spectrum of cellular processes including cytokinesis, ciliogenesis, cell migration, polarity, and cell-pathogen interactions. Given their breadth of functions, it is not surprising that septin abnormalities have also been linked to human diseases. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of septin structure, assembly and function, and discuss these in the context of human disease.

Anoctamins support calcium-dependent chloride secretion by facilitating calcium signaling in adult mouse intestine

Intestinal epithelial electrolyte secretion is activated by increase in intracellular cAMP or Ca(2+) and opening of apical Cl(-) channels. In infants and young animals, but not in adults, Ca(2+)-activated chloride channels may cause secretory diarrhea during rotavirus infection. While detailed knowledge exists concerning the contribution of cAMP-activated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channels, analysis of the role of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels became possible through identification of the anoctamin (TMEM16) family of proteins. We demonstrate expression of several anoctamin paralogues in mouse small and large intestines. Using intestinal-specific mouse knockout models for anoctamin 1 (Ano1) and anoctamin 10 (Ano10) and a conventional knockout model for anoctamin 6 (Ano6), we demonstrate the role of anoctamins for Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) secretion induced by the muscarinic agonist carbachol (CCH). Ano1 is preferentially expressed in the ileum and large intestine, where it supports Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) secretion. In contrast, Ano10 is essential for Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) secretion in jejunum, where expression of Ano1 was not detected. Although broadly expressed, Ano6 has no role in intestinal cholinergic Cl(-) secretion. Ano1 is located in a basolateral compartment/membrane rather than in the apical membrane, where it supports CCH-induced Ca(2+) increase, while the essential and possibly only apical Cl(-) channel is CFTR. These results define a new role of Ano1 for intestinal Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) secretion and demonstrate for the first time a contribution of Ano10 to intestinal transport.

Structure and function of TMEM16 proteins (anoctamins)

TMEM16 proteins, also known as anoctamins, are involved in a variety of functions that include ion transport, phospholipid scrambling, and regulation of other membrane proteins. The first two members of the family, TMEM16A (anoctamin-1, ANO1) and TMEM16B (anoctamin-2, ANO2), function as Ca2+-activated Cl- channels (CaCCs), a type of ion channel that plays important functions such as transepithelial ion transport, smooth muscle contraction, olfaction, phototransduction, nociception, and control of neuronal excitability. Genetic ablation of TMEM16A in mice causes impairment of epithelial Cl- secretion, tracheal abnormalities, and block of gastrointestinal peristalsis. TMEM16A is directly regulated by cytosolic Ca2+ as well as indirectly by its interaction with calmodulin. Other members of the anoctamin family, such as TMEM16C, TMEM16D, TMEM16F, TMEM16G, and TMEM16J, may work as phospholipid scramblases and/or ion channels. In particular, TMEM16F (ANO6) is a major contributor to the process of phosphatidylserine translocation from the inner to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Intriguingly, TMEM16F is also associated with the appearance of anion/cation channels activated by very high Ca2+ concentrations. Furthermore, a TMEM16 protein expressed in Aspergillus fumigatus displays both ion channel and lipid scramblase activity. This finding suggests that dual function is an ancestral characteristic of TMEM16 proteins and that some members, such as TMEM16A and TMEM16B, have evolved to a pure channel function. Mutations in anoctamin genes (ANO3, ANO5, ANO6, and ANO10) cause various genetic diseases. These diseases suggest the involvement of anoctamins in a variety of cell functions whose link with ion transport and/or lipid scrambling needs to be clarified.