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

Chi-Lun Chang1, Yu-Ju Chen1, Jen Liou1

  • 1Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Cell Research
|May 31, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) junctions are crucial for cell communication. Recent discoveries, particularly STIM1

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Membrane Biology

Background:

  • Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) junctions are specialized membrane microdomains facilitating intercellular communication.
  • Historically overlooked in non-excitable cells, ER-PM junctions gained prominence following the 2005 discovery of STIM1's role in Ca2+ signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the historical context and recent advancements in understanding ER-PM junctions.
  • To highlight novel tools for ER-PM junction visualization and mechanistic insights into their regulation and function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of early studies and recent research on ER-PM junctions.
  • Discussion of newly developed tools for labeling and studying ER-PM junctions.

Main Results:

  • Significant progress in characterizing ER-PM junction regulation and function over the past decade.
  • Development of advanced tools enabling detailed investigation of these membrane microdomains.

Conclusions:

  • ER-PM junctions are vital cellular communication hubs with broad functional significance.
  • Continued research, aided by new tools, is rapidly expanding our knowledge of ER-PM junction biology.

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