An ER-Mitochondria Tethering Complex Revealed by a Synthetic Biology Screen

2009/06/25 by Benoı̂t Kornmann, Erin Currie, Sean R. Collins +4 · 7 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Mitochondrial Function and Pathology #ATP Synthase and ATPases Research #Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms

paper · doi:10.1126/science.1175088

openalex publication_date 2009/06/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Communication between organelles is an important feature of all eukaryotic cells. To uncover components involved in mitochondria/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) junctions, we screened for mutants that could be complemented by a synthetic protein designed to artificially tether the two organelles. We identified the Mmm1/Mdm10/Mdm12/Mdm34 complex as a molecular tether between ER and mitochondria. The tethering complex was composed of proteins resident of both ER and mitochondria. With the use of genome-wide mapping of genetic interactions, we showed that the components of the tethering complex were functionally connected to phospholipid biosynthesis and calcium-signaling genes. In mutant cells, phospholipid biosynthesis was impaired. The tethering complex localized to discrete foci, suggesting that discrete sites of close apposition between ER and mitochondria facilitate interorganelle calcium and phospholipid exchange.

Citations

• Sigma-1 Receptor Chaperones at the ER- Mitochondrion Interface Regulate Ca2+ Signaling and Cell Survival

Cited by

• Making heads or tails of phospholipids in mitochondria
• Formation and Regulation of Mitochondrial Membranes
• Definition of a High-Confidence Mitochondrial Proteome at Quantitative Scale
• Targeting and Insertion of Membrane Proteins in Mitochondria
• Phosphatidylserine synthesis at membrane contact sites promotes its transport out of the ER
• Mitochondrial Machineries for Protein Import and Assembly
• Mitochondria [wikipedia]