ER-PM Contacts: Principals of Membrane Organization

The plasma membrane (PM) is highly dynamic and undergoes extensive remodelling during regulated exocytosis and endocytosis. The PM is also spatially organised into distinct domains, including cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated PM zones and ER-free PM zones. ER-PM contacts are recognised as important sites for non-vesicular calcium and membrane lipid transport, while exocytic and endocytic vesicular trafficking events are thought to take place exclusively in ER-free PM zones. These two PM domains have been considered to be functionally and spatially uncoupled. Our work is revealing vital roles for inter-organelle cross talk between the ER and PM in membrane trafficking pathways. We are addressing how the architecture of ER-PM contacts is regulated and how distinct ER-PM contacts govern PM domain organization and dynamics. I will present our recent findings on roles for membrane lipid dynamics taking place at ER-PM contacts in the control ofphosphoinositide (PI) kinase regulatory networks during regulated exo- and endocytosis.

The hosts for thsi seminar is chris.macdonald@york.ac.uk