ER-plasma membrane junctions: Why and how do we study them?

Chi Lun Chang, Yu Ju Chen, Jen Liou

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) junctions are membrane microdomains important for communication between the ER and the PM. ER-PM junctions were first reported in muscle cells in 1957, but mostly ignored in non-excitable cells due to their scarcity and lack of functional significance. In 2005, the discovery of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) mediating a universal Ca2+ feedback mechanism at ER-PM junctions in mammalian cells led to a resurgence of research interests toward ER-PM junctions. In the past decade, several major advancements have been made in this emerging topic in cell biology, including the generation of tools for labeling ER-PM junctions and the unraveling of mechanisms underlying regulation and functions of ER-PM junctions. This review summarizes early studies, recently developed tools, and current advances in the characterization and understanding of ER-PM junctions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Contact Sites edited by Christian Ungermann and Benoit Kornmann.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1494-1506
Number of pages13
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Cell Research
Volume1864
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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