Inter-Organelle Contacts

This collection examines the diverse mechanisms by which mitochondria and other organelles physically interact, and the essential roles these serve for cellular homeostasis. Although observations of regulated contacts between organelles emerged somewhat recently, these physical and biochemical hubs are now appreciated as important sites that control organelle functions. From regulating the ESCRT pathway and governing polarized cargo sorting, to maintaining mitochondrial morphology and function, the studies in this collection highlight the importance of inter-organelle contacts and bridging complexes for core functions of mitochondria, ER, endolysosomes, and the plasma membrane. The papers included in this collection reflect the essential role of organelle contact sites for lipid transfer, but also emphasize contact sites as important physical tethers. In addition to primary research articles, we include two pieces on methods to visualize inter-organelle contacts using super-resolution microscopy. We hope readers will enjoy our first Special Collection on this exciting topic.

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Image © 2023 Su et al.