RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A novel fluorescent reporter detects plastic remodeling of mitochondria–ER contact sites
JF Journal of Cell Science
JO J. Cell Sci.
FD The Company of Biologists Ltd
SP jcs208686
DO 10.1242/jcs.208686
VO 131
IS 1
A1 Yang, Zhaoying
A1 Zhao, Xiaocui
A1 Xu, Jiashen
A1 Shang, Weina
A1 Tong, Chao
YR 2018
UL http://jcs.biologists.org/content/131/1/jcs208686.abstract
AB Mitochondria–ER contact sites (MERCs) enable communication between the ER and mitochondria and serve as platforms for many cellular events, including autophagy. Nonetheless, the molecular organization of MERCs is not known, and there is no bona fide marker of these contact sites in mammalian cells. In this study, we designed a genetically encoded reporter using split GFP protein for labeling MERCs. We subsequently analyzed its distribution and dynamics during the cell cycle and under stressful cellular conditions such as starvation, apoptosis and ER stress. We found that MERCs are dynamic structures that undergo remodeling within minutes. Mitochondrial morphology, but not ER morphology, affected the distribution of MERCs. We also found that carbonyl cyanidem-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) and oligomycin A treatment enhanced MERC formation. The stimulations that led to apoptosis or autophagy increased the MERC signal. By contrast, increasing cellular lipid droplet load did not change the pattern of MERCs.